Roxanne:
While I agree in principle with a need to find and renew intrinsic
"motivators", I also wish to caution you against broad generalizations.
You state that "all...attempts to motivate...with extrinsic devices tells
employees that their work is so odious that we couldn't expect them to do
it without bribes".
The evidence that this is universally true? I do not find that a climate
of competition created by extrinsic motivators detroys teamwork advances.
There are documented examples of best-in-class companies where extrinsic
motivators work hand in hand with intrinsic values informing the work
people do--work people want to do.
Recognition and reward (non-monetary or monetary) are principal components
of the Total Quality Infrastructure.
I'm not sure what your particular background is, but the data points I
have available through "societal networking" among Total Quality companies
suggest a synergy between the intrinsic and extrinsic.
Best regards,
-- Barry Mallis Total Quality Resource Manager MARKEM Corporation Keene, NH bmallis@markem.com