HR Service Matters

By: Mike Smith

Having been close to sales and marketing organizations for over 30 years, I have observed the sometimes simple yet more often complex world of sales compensation plans.  And recently we have all been exposed to the difficulties of highly-leveraged bonus plans in the financial services arena.  Clearly all incentive plans have a goal to motivate employees to peak performance.

Recently, I reviewed a very interesting TED video by Daniel Pink. Pink’s talk covers some of the key elements of his newest book titled Drive.  The research highlighted is intriguing and his conclusions about a whole new operating model for business are very fascinating.  Rather than rely on traditional monetary (carrot) incentives which are external, Pink advocates an intrinsic motivational model that offers employees motivation through autonomy, mastery and purpose.  Below is the link to the complete video on TED.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

In considering this new model, I believe that HR services can help facilitate the autonomy and purpose incentives.  Using even skimpy social networking capabilities, organizations can help promote autonomy by showing how employees are satisfying their urge to direct their own lives in the workplace.  Even team results can be promoted. 

HR services can also make it easier for employees see the bigger picture and bring into focus the essential purpose of the organization.  Everyone wants to know about the results that are bigger than any one individual.  This revelation helps to satisfy that longing we all have to see our work support the service of something greater than ourselves.