Very interesting article, David. Thanks much for sharing!

Hi Antonio–thanks for highlighting this important point that we all share psychological needs and that we are more the same than different. Your comment reminded me about research from Duke University where subjects were asked to rate what motivates them individually, and what motivates peers and superiors at different levels in an organization. In most cases, the subjects rated their peers and superiors as more interested in external incentives than they said was true for themselves. One of our senior consultants, David Facer, wrote a great article about this in Training magazine that has the complete story. Here’s a link: http://pubs.royle.com/article/Motivation_Misunderstanding/1113123/118254/article.html

Hi Bob–are you suggesting that we should be looking at motivation even during the hiring process? If yes, I’m excited about that idea and what it might mean. I know that the best companies build mission, vision, and values discussions into the interview process!

If we wait until after we hire employees to begin to address their motivation and job success, then we have waited too long.