Taleb and Whitney of why incentives are just another sick game A big bank announced its annual profits—not very big this year—with a whole third of those going as bonuses for traders. Traders ususally make … Continue reading Incentive plans: Addictive for people and ruinous for companies
Category: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
McGregor and Whitney on “making the numbers”
The exciting game of “making the numbers.” In Freedom, Inc. we wrote: “Because you get what you measure, your measurement becomes the performance. And before long, rather than boosting your firm to ever-faster growth and … Continue reading McGregor and Whitney on “making the numbers”
Deming on invisible costs and other figures
Running a company on visible figures alone We have written in Freedom, Inc. on the invisible costs of traditional companies and illustrated it through the costs of the workplace stress. Of course, there are others … Continue reading Deming on invisible costs and other figures
On Animals and Pets in the Workplace
Why animals and pets are welcome in the workplace (and we didn’t even know it) We have just “discovered” this amazing book written in 1993. Its author, John O. Whitney, spent most of his career … Continue reading On Animals and Pets in the Workplace
Neuroscience shows threats bad and freedom good
Managing with the Brain in Mind David Rock AUTUMN 2009, ISSUE 56 …Although a job is often regarded as a purely economic transaction, in which people exchange their labor for financial compensation, the brain experiences … Continue reading Neuroscience shows threats bad and freedom good
On the focus on money
Mitch Albom “People are only mean when they’re threatened and that’s what our culture does… And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a god. It is … Continue reading On the focus on money
McKinsey Quarterly on non-material motivators
Motivating people: Getting beyond money M. Dewhurst, M. Guthridge, & E. Mohr NOVEMBER 2009 Companies around the world are cutting back their financial-incentive programs, but few have used other ways of inspiring talent. We think … Continue reading McKinsey Quarterly on non-material motivators
No Vacation Policy—and they still work!
Should We Eliminate Our Vacation Policy? by Henry Blodget 24 DECEMBER 2009 At The Business Insider, we currently have a standard vacation policy–a certain number of weeks a year. That said, for the past 15 … Continue reading No Vacation Policy—and they still work!
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Henry Ford “If a man thinks he can or cannot perform a task, he’s right.”
Boosting workers’ self-esteem
Sam Walton “Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves it’s amazing what they can accomplish.”