Tag: Motivation

3 Ideas That Explain What Really Motivates Us

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This post will help you understand the limited power of financial incentives.

Neither of these, it seems...

What really motivates us?

AUTONOMY is the desire to be self directed. If we can’t be self directed, if we have to do things “the prescribed way”- then money will be needed to assure performance.

MASTERY all of us have a desire to get better, to improve, to have an area where we are the “expert.”  If we have the chance to get better at what we are doing, we will be motivated to do so.

PURPOSE is the reason that we jump out of bed in themorning, rather than just hit snooze. Sharing the compelling reasons for why what it is we all do matters is a key motivator for everyone in the organization.

But don’t take my word for it watch this awesome animation from RSAAnimate.

Photo credit.

What Makes An Engineering Professional?

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Integrity. Motivation. Objectivity. Ability. Audacity.

Integrity. Motivation. Objectivity. Ability. AUDACITY!

Integrity is the foundation of our technical profession. Without credibility, how can we expect others to rely on our work?
Motivation gives us the passion to see the work through. The discipline to do the impossible difficult calculations, to find the answer in the data available. To complete the assignment. And verify our solution.
Objectivity is the greatest tool of our profession. Learning, understanding, and applying the facts to a situation that we have analyzed, and anticipating the consequences is our objective work. We rely on facts and data.
Ability is how we execute. We have served our apprenticeship, learned our profession. We have spent time with the books. We have learned to do the math, and understand which  mathematical relationships apply to the situations we are asked to solve. We have rolled up our sleeves. Used the tools. And learned from doing.
Audacity is the engineer’s greatest gift to mankind. How audacious- to seek a better way. How daring to invest time and effort to solve the difficult problem. How dare we tackle the greatest problems facing humanity- safe water systems, safe transportation systems, safe medical devices, utilities and technologies to make our world a better place.
 How dare we try to find a better way?
Photo credit: Thanks to the Audacious Engineers of NASA Apollo 8
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