Why Most Reward Systems Fail and What to Do About It

By being aware of the incentives that may be directing our actions, we can recognize any unsavory influences and refocus by considering what we are really valuing. We may be driven by rewards like money, attention, and power, but we may actually value things like making a positive impact on the world, kindness, and honesty. We need not blindly foll

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when people are asked to guess what matters to their coworkers—or, in the case of managers, to their subordinates—they assume money heads the list. But put the question directly—“What do you care about?”—and pay typically ranks only fifth or sixth.

Not surprisingly, people who seem to do well in this world are ones who do not fit into the traditional organizational structures; they are difficult to hire and manage because they do not rely on traditional symbols of power, such as organizational titles, monetary rewards, and command of large departments. They are driven by intrinsic motivations

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