Motivated by a Carrot and Stick? Don't be an 'Ass!

It is easy to get caught up in the routine of expecting a reward for a job well done. Be it a raise, promotion or bonus, we often work to get something, rather than to accomplish something. The greater our effort, the more we expect in return. I fall into this trap myself. If completing a task at work will result in recognition or a reward, I generally put more effort into it than a task I feel may not be rewarded.

Conversely, fear of what will happen as a result of under-performing can also become a primary factor of motivation. Everyone knows that slacking off at work has negative consequences. Conern over being disrespected, demoted or even fired can push us to do our best work. It is odd to think that what keeps many people pushing forward at work is that they are scared of what will happen if they let up.

Shah and Shah (2007) explain this phenomena using Jeremy Bentham's "The Carrot and the Stick Approach." "It comes from the old story that to make a donkey move, one must put a carrot in front of him or dab him with a stick from behind" (p. 3).

In considering your own motivation at work, is there a dangling carrot, in the form of a reward, which inspires you to do your best work? Or is it the the stick, in the form of fear, which pushes you to accomplish goals?

Don't be an 'ass! Rid yourself of the need for the carrot and stick by using other forms of motivation. For example, establish a sense of pride for successful task-completion and learn to find happiness in a job well-done. Set goals at a higher standard that encourage you to perform better and exert maximum effort (p. 3). Become a more confident person based on your work successes.

Stop dwelling on the reward that may await you, or the consequence that could be looming. Motivate yourself by making your work a reflection of YOU!

Resource: Shah, K. & Shah, P. (n.d.) Motivation. Retrieved July 10, 2007, from http://www.laynetworks.com/Motivation.html.