Top leadership researcher, consultant, and coach Susan Fowler says stop trying to motivate people! It’s frustrating for everyone involved and it just doesn’t work. You can’t motivate people—they are already motivated but generally in superficial and short-term ways. In this book, Fowler builds upon the latest scientific research on the nature of human motivation to lay out a tested model and course of action that will help leaders guide their people toward the kind of motivation that not only increases productivity and engagement but that gives them a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Fowler argues that leaders still depend on traditional carrot-and-stick techniques because they haven’t understood their alternatives and don’t know what skills are necessary to apply the new science of motivation. Her Optimal Motivation process shows leaders how to move people away from dependence on external rewards and help them discover how their jobs can meet the deeper psychological needs—for autonomy, relatedness, and competence—that science tells us result in meaningful and sustainable motivation.
Optimal Motivation has been proven in organizations all over the world—Fowler’s clients include Microsoft, CVS, NASA, the Catholic Leadership Institute, H&R Block, Mattel, and dozens more. Throughout the book, she illustrates how each step of the process works using real-life examples. Susan Fowler ‘s book is the groundbreaking answer for leaders who want to get motivation right!
This book kicks Drive’s ass This is a phenomenal book. Rather than writing about self-determination theory, Susan unpacks it in a way that provides access. When I first heard about this book as being similar to Drive by Daniel Pink I waived it off and thought there wouldn’t be enough meat to sink my teeth into. I thought it would be fun, lightweight, perhaps interesting to people yet unfamiliar with the topic. However, like Drive, I thought it would fall well short of sharing mastery of practice or creating actionable…
Increase your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) This is one of my Top 10 reads of all-time. I love this book so much that I have a hard copy and the kindle version. It will be one of my desk reference books for the unforeseeable future. The way Susan makes it easy to understand the Motivational Junk Food we try to feed employees (and volunteers, our kids, etc.) is exactly what we must use to change what is now the conventional wisdom.Â
This book helped my business I was fortunate to have been given a physical copy of this book. Most often, I either listen to audio books or read via Kindle. This is relevant to this review because I was so moved by Susan’s book that I purchased it on Kindle and Audible. As I do with other keeper books, I’ll read and apply these concepts to my business.Â