Why Motivating People Doesn't Work... and What Does, Second Edition: More Breakthroughs for Leading, Energizing, and Engaging

"Leaders who want to amp up employee morale should take a look.- Publishers Weekly What if the answer to motivating people is to stop trying to motivate them? The second edition of this bestseller reveals how motivation science is essential for solving the most vexing leadership issues-from hybrid work and retention to employee engagement. Leaders face a motivation dilemma. Traditional command-and-control management styles and carrot-and-stick motivation techniques have been proven ineffective. Motivation researcher and leadership consultant Susan Fowler expands on her groundbreaking Spectrum of Motivation model in this updated post-pandemic edition. New chapters tackle motivation science's role in managing remote and hybrid work; expose overused tactics, such as gamification and tokens; and tell the fascinating backstory behind the great resignation and quiet quitting. Fowler's approach to leadership is fresh, pragmatic, and inspiring. But it's also empirically sound. Her framework builds on Self-Determination Theory, equipping leaders with skills to encourage choice, deepen connection, and build competence. Leaders who mastered this method have experienced breakthroughs with higher retention, lower turnover, greater acceptance of DEIJ initiatives, and a more vital, creative, and resilient workforce. Through her experiences working with organizations and leaders around the world, Fowler reminds us that motivation is at the heart of everything people do and everything they don't do but wish they did. When managers integrate motivation science into their everyday leadership practice, an evolutionary truth emerges: people can be highly productive and flourish simultaneously. "You can't motivate people, but you can help people learn to motivate themselves. This second edition includes new material on inspiring self-motivation in remote workers and a distributed workforce. What if the answer to motivating people is to stop trying to motivate them? Leadership researcher, consultant, and coach Susan Fowler says that overtly trying to motivate your employees can be frustrating for everyone involved and doesn't work in the long term. You can't force people to be motivated-but you can help them find the inner commitment that increases productivity and engagement and gives them a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. The second edition of this bestseller includes a new chapter on remote and hybrid work as well as updated content on postpandemic management, DEIJ initiatives, and the Great Resignation. Fowler uses the Self-Determination Theory to show the positive effects of optimal motivation on people's vitality, productivity, and creativity and lays out a tested model and course of action for leaders. In addition, she includes compelling examples and anecdotal evidence from applying her techniques in organizations and with individuals worldwide. Fowler shows leaders how to get out of the way and encourage their people to self-motivate and foster personal excellence"-- Provided by publisher