What does it take to motivate today’s security officer? If you know, please tell me. I have tried to get the most from every worker I encounter. When I fail, I cannot help but wonder what is wrong with my approach or with me. I’m open to new ideas and will read what the latest experts have to say. Lately, I have been motivated to try the suggestions from two authors who wrote books on motivation and human nature: one book by Daniel Pink titled “Drive - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” is a look beyond the traditional carrot and stick approach. The other is by Paul Lawrence and Nitin Nohria and is titled “Driven How Human Nature Shapes our Choices.” I think motivation and choices are two inseparable concepts.
Each author wants to reveal what motivates us. Pink discusses how to motivate, while Lawrence talks about what drives us. If we as leaders can understand how people are driven and also address what motivates our workforce, I think we have a better chance of getting the results we want, and make them last. I also feel the two books, aside from being similarly titled, have approached motivation in human nature in two distinct ways that compels me to try to make them work together.