By Daniel Pink
This was a re-read for the book club. It really altered my perspective when I first read it during my first tour through the management corpus. I think we also read it as a management book club selection at my previous job. I think that makes this my third read of it. The book stresses the importance of intrinsic motivation and how our systems frequently squash it under the mistaken idea that motivation can be created through external measures. Sticks and carrots can actually remove intrinsic motivation. My initial interest was in being a better manager (although the book objects to the title and much of the concept of “management” of people), but it also highlights behaviors that can help an individual who seeks mastery and self improvement.
I particularly relate to the portions about school and the grades vs learning conundrum. I got good at playing the grade game and approached school with a grade-first mindset, not learning-first. It makes me sad because I think of how much more I could’ve gotten out of it. It’s fun to learn and to improve and I could’ve retained more knowledge and skills and enjoyed doing it if I were put into a system that was learning-first, not grades first. I’m trying to make up for it now as an adult who doesn’t have anyone scoring my progress.