Why Motivating People Doesn't Work . . . and What Does

5.Making Shift Happen

A colleague of mine manages a high-tech team. She was lamenting an experience trying to motivate a team member who often works from home. The team was growing, office space was tight, and one of the only offices with four walls and a door belonged to this team member. The manager asked the team member if he would give up his rarely used office to another team member who would benefit from the added space and privacy. The second team member’s role required her to come in every day, and working in a cubicle was not conducive to her productivity.

The manager didn’t want to “demotivate” the first team member by demanding he give up his office, but she thought it was a reasonable request, given that he usually worked from home. ...