Why Motivating People Doesn't Work . . . and What Does

Top trainer and coach Susan Fowler urges leaders to stop trying to motivatepeople! It’s frustrating for everyone involved, and it just doesn’t work—notif you want a genuine commitment to excellence. Applying recent, oftensurprising psychological discoveries, she lays out a tested process forhelping people motivate themselves in ways that not only increase productivityand engagement but also give them a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. Traditional carrot-and-stick techniques may result in temporary gains, Fowlerargues, but once the bribe or the threat is gone, people’s commitment flags.And these kinds of techniques make people focus more on the reward or thepunishment rather than on their jobs. Her Optimal Motivation process showsleaders how to move away from dependence on external rewards and helpemployees discover how their jobs can meet their needs for autonomy,connection, and competence that psychology tells us result in true, long-lasting motivation. Susan Fowler’s book is the groundbreaking answer forleaders who want to "get motivation" right!