SolStockFormer Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy was known to criticize staff for being "coin-operated" instead of mission-driven. Understanding what motivates good performance is crucial for managers to master. Here is a collection of stories from our archive that highlight Harvard Business School research on motivation.
The Most Powerful Workplace Motivator
The most powerful workplace motivator is our natural tendency to measure our own performance against the performance of others.
Excellence Comes From Saying No
Why it's better to be excellent at one thing than good at everything.
To Motivate Employees, Give an Unexpected Bonus (or Penalty)
Employees can be more motivated by the anticipation of a reward or punishment than the actual payoff.
Why Government 'Nudges' Motivate Good Citizen Behavior
Research finds that psychological nudges can be a cost-effective way for governments to get citizens to do the right thing.
Hiding From Managers Can Increase Your Productivity
Forget management by walking around. Decreasing workplace transparency can increase worker productivity.
Money and Quotas Motivate the Sales Force Best
Bonus programs are effective for motivating sales people, but also costly for companies to maintain. Which programs work best?
A Little Understanding Motivates Copyright Abusers to Pay Up
Many internet users don't give a second thought to copying and reusing an image. Here's how copyright holders can gently persuade abusers to do the right thing.
How to Demotivate Your Best Employees
Many companies hand out awards such as "employee of the month," but do they work to motivate performance? Not really.
Knowing What Your Boss Earns Can Make You Work Harder
Learning what your co-worker earns can make you less productive, but knowing your manager's paycheck can motivate you to work harder.
Research Papers
Research Paper Goals Gone Wild: The Systematic Side Effects of Over-Prescribing Goal Setting
For decades, goal setting has been promoted as a halcyon pill for improving employee motivation and performance in organizations. Know when goals can go off the rails.
Research Paper Is Overconfidence a Motivated Bias? Experimental Evidence
People are most at risk of making overly positive self-assessments when their assessment criteria are not clearly defined. Yet, even within ambiguous domains, providing clearly defined criteria for what makes a productive employee, an effective leader, and an efficient team, may help people better calibrate their self-perceptions with reality.
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