Which Type of Work Feels Right for You?
Imagine there are four objects on a table, each representing a different type of work. There’s actually a psychological test that can predict what sort of work you would prefer.
intrinsic motivation
The Silent Fear that Keeps Talented People Playing Small
Every big decision in your life is set on this pair of weighing scales, and the scales tipping determine whether you proceed or not. In order to change, to grow, to take the next step, whatever that might be, the scales need to tip. And on these scales, you’ve got the fear of failure on one side, and on the other side you’ve got the fear of regret.
Motivating people at work, time to rethink carrots and sticks
We’ve covered how people are motivated at work in previous posts. External things that happen as a result of work (Salary, perks, recognition) drive some people, whilst the satisfaction of the work itself guides others. See “Jobs, Careers and Callings” and “How to harness true inner direction and ignore ego-driven goals”.
So I was keen to read Daniel H. Pink’s 2009 book “Drive – the surprising truth about what motivates us”.
How to harness true inner direction and ignore ego-driven goals
In a previous post, I mentioned how a person’s occupation can be a job, career, or calling. In summary, I said that a job is something you do for money, a career offers recognition and progress, and a calling involves a strong sense of purpose, it lights you up. Read more about the three types here: https://northstarlabs.co.uk/jobs-careers-callings/.
Within these three roles, it’s important to understand the underlying motivation. Psychologists refer to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation about why we are driven towards such work.