As I told you in today’s memo, I agree with Daniel Pink who says in this video that we desire:
1. autonomy,
2. mastery and
3. purpose.

But Pink fails to tell us WHY the higher incentives led to poorer performance.

The higher incentives didn’t just fail to deliver a higher performance than the small and medium rewards; they actually led to poorer performance. This causation is never addressed in the video.

My speculation: Persons attempting to achieve the higher incentives for cognitive performance “over-thunk it.” When the stakes are high, fear causes us to second-guess our highest and best impulses. 

SOLUTION: Quit being scared.

Roy H. Williams

PS – Yes, I know “thunk” is not a word. I chose it for effect. If you were considering sending me a note of correction, please don’t. Life’s too short.
(Or so says Charles Bukowski. Especially when you got no style.)