(book review) Drive

Drive: The Surprising Truth about what motivates us by Daniel H. Pink (Audio book)
Penguin Audio, NY-USA, 2009

'Drive' begins where 'A Whole New Mind' (Pink's previous book) left us. This “business” book is based on 'human motivation' and discloses the disparity between what we already know as a science but what we actually do in reality. It contradicts the traditional extrinsic motivation and puts a convincing case in favor of intrinsic motivation. It involves more than giving out bonuses to employees or getting good grades.

In addition to the basic biological and response drives, humans have a  third drive - intrinsic motivation. Pink says that, in order to succeed, business need to catch up with this drive.

Pink uses the analogy of computer OS to describe generations of 'motivation' in humans. The 1st operating system in humans was based on survival – Motivation 1.0. Its successor 2.0 was built around rewards and punishments and worked fine for routine tasks of the 20th century. But, we need to upgrade ourselves to Motivation 3.0 (which is based on internal rewards and satisfaction) to survive the 21st century.

Simply put, the book says that people will be motivated when they get:

AUTONOMY in their work.
As humans, our default setting is set to autonomous and self-directed i.e. we are Type I (intrinsically motivated) by default. But, traditional (outdated) management settings turn this setting from Type I to Type X (extrinsically motivated). To move back to Type I, people need autonomy with tasks (what), time(when), team(who) and technique (how).

MASTERY
Traditional management settings demand 'compliance' whereas our default setting is 'engagement'. Engagement in a task that leads to mastery over it. This engagement comes with FLOW. Pink says, mastery can be achieved by 3 peculiar rules:
Mind Set (that sees one's ability as infinitely improvable)
Pain (mastery requires deliberate effort and persistence)
Impossible to fully realize (which makes it frustrating and at the same time, alluring)

PURPOSE
Traditionally, businesses function with the sole purpose of profit maximization and have a purpose so long as it doesn't get in way. With  Motivation 3.0, as Pink puts it, “purpose maximization is taking its way along side profit maximization”. This can be achieved through: 
Goals (using profit as a means to reach the purpose)
Words (that express more than just self-interest)
Policies (that will allow employees to pursue purpose on their own terms)

I would recommend this book for people who run a business or people in the field of management. The book gives a fair idea of what motivates not just employees but people in general. It will give a new way to look at getting the best out of people and one's business in general while keeping everyone happy and content.

(book review) A Whole New Mind

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink

Riverhead Books (Berkely Publishing Group), NY-USA, 2005

The principal argument of this book is that “right-brainers” or people with R-directed thinking will influence the Conceptual Age or the 21^st century, just as the farmers did in the Agriculture Age or the Factory Workers did in the Industrial Age or the Knowledge Workers did in the Information Age. The author illustrates 3 major problems of the developed world that will induce right-brainers to beam:

Abundance (It has satiated our material needs and now beauty has taken an important place in our lives. Now, people are in search of meaning)

Asia (Has taken up all the “white-collar” / Left brainer jobs)

Automation (Is affecting the white-collar workers similar to the way it affected the “blue-collar” workers of the industrial age)

He aptly defines the traits of L-brainers (converging, detail-oriented, sequential, logical, literal, analytical, textual) and contrasts them to those of the R-brainers. (Diverging, looks at the big-picture, simultaneous, synthesis, emotive, metaphorical, aesthetic, contextual)

In second part of the book, Pink talks about 6 R-Directed aptitudes necessary in the 21^st century:

Design - (Today, the emphasis has to be more on form and emotional engagement rather than just the function – that is what appeals)

Story - (It appeals to our emotions and gives a deep understanding of the context. It helps in communicating yourself) Dev Patnaik's book – 'Wired to Care' goes into more detail on this aptitude. I will write a post on the book soon.

Symphony (This capability helps us put the pieces together, helps us look at the larger picture. We can use it to combine and generate a unique value)

Empathy (It is a basic human quality – the ability to understand other people. This can be used to build a strong network for collective advantage) Dev Patnaik's book – 'Wired to Care' goes into more detail on this aptitude. I will write a post on the book soon.

Play (lightheartedness – doing what you enjoy)

Meaning (Abundance of everything does not give peace to one's mind. That is why the clichéd term 'search of a meaning'. This will have a positive influence)

Though I appreciate the author's thoughts about moving to a Conceptual Age and sharpening our R-Directed skills, I choose to disagree with him in portraying the six R-Directed aptitudes as unique to the developed countries. It is a mistake to make such an assumption as any person, regardless of his country, might be able to acquire them. It is worth-while to note that many successful entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers in the West – People such as Laxmi Mittal, Guy Kawasaki, C.K.Prahlad have origins in the East. But overall, 'A Whole New Mind' the kind of book that marks a shift – It gives a fresh perspective to look at yourself and the changing world.

The right-brain exercises in the book are interesting and fun. It makes one come out of the comfort zone and really challenges the R-brain. Hence to the book,the title is just right!