Motivation on the Run

Jerry Pounds has written an interesting, if not controversial set of articles at the Management Issues website. I’m not sure I agree with some of what he says, but he does bring up some very interesting points that should spur conversation, at the very least.

There are shots at Six Sigma and TQM styles of management and postulations on what should be done to change the culture of motivation in the workplace. Statements like this one are sure to start many a discussion on the merits of the current style.

Change behavior to break the Motivational Code

Apparently, psychology’s basic truths are known only by a privileged few – and they’re not talking. Unlike the DaDaVinciode, the Motivational Code has yet to be broken. Meanwhile, the field of applied psychology remains a battlefield where there are no victors but instead an endless conflict of assertion and rebuttal. No position goes unchallenged, no premise uncriticized, no principle ununassailed.

From my experience, this paragraph will ring true with many people and explains why the ‘mean’ boss model continues in corporate America. It doesn’t matter if it is the correct way, if it works, it becomes a repeated process.

For example, when a manager threatens employees, speaks to them menacingly, alludes to a negative outcome if they don’t do this or that, the employees usually do what is asked – and quickly. So the intimidating manager’s behavior (though inappropriate) works for him or her and are therefore repeated, ultimately becoming habitual.

The article is fairly long and is a three part series starting in August and finishing in September, but the thinking process carries throughout the series and gives a fairly complete picture of Jerry’s thinking on today’s modern management styles.

[tags]motivation, leadership, management styles[/tags]