Drive by Daniel Pink
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 1:09PM
(links to Amazon Associate link)First off, I want to start by saying that I was first introduced to my now favorite author, Daniel Pink, by my colleagues Peter Klaus and Steven Kostant in the DC office of Fleishman-Hillard. They told me about this amazing book, A Whole New Mind and upon returning from my business trip to DC that fateful week, I downloaded the Audible version as fast as I could.
They were right. A Whole New Mind? Well, it blew my mind, and I said as much on Twitter and Facebook. Imagine my reaction when Daniel Pink himself sent me a direct message via Twitter thanking me for the accolades and...get this...offering to send me an advanced copy of his book Drive, that will be available tomorrow, December 29, everywhere.
Drive is, simply, what it says on the cover: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. I bet many of you are thinking that it's a huge salary or amazing perks. Sure, that's why some of us get up every morning to pound the pavement. But what truly motivates us, according to Daniel Pink, is so much more than that.
So what is it? Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose...or in other words: self-direction, challenges that match our abilities, and being a part of cause that is larger than ourselves.
So who is this book written for? I'll tell you...if you're a manager and you want to see higher performance and retention rates? I'd say you should definitely check this book out as soon as possible. However, manager or not, if you're someone that looks at your career as more than just "work" and finds yourself more often than not reaching higher because you have an affinity and a, well, DRIVE, for what you do everyday...then you'll absolutely love this book because it will help channel that energy and leverage it even more. If you're unhappy in your career but are not sure why or not sure what your next move should be...this book will help put things in perspective.
In fact, in the back of the book there's a toolkit available that helps you apply the principles discussed in this book. Specifically, there's a section for individuals, a section for organizations, and even a section for educators and parents.
What it comes down to is shifting from Type X behavior where the focus is on extrinsic desires, or external rewards to Type I behavior, where the focus is more on instrinsic desires and wanting to do better for ourselves and the world around us.
If you're a skimmer when it comes to non-fiction, Drive is written in a way that is reference-friendly...but those who like to read cover to cover will not be disappointed either.
*Links to books are Amazon Associate links*
Reader Comments (4)
My mom, currently pursuing her PhD, would LOVE this book. I wouldnt be surprised if she was on a waiting list for it or something!
I appreciated your summary! Now I am off to browse (stalk) the rest of your site. ;)
Blessings-
Amanda
My husband works for the company Meddius that is highlighted in this book. His company utilizes ROWE (results only work environment), a management style that Pink points out as autonomous and self-directing. My husband loves working for a ROWE company, and he's really thrived in this environment. Like you said, Jessica, I think Drive would be a great read for managers looking to improve performance and retention. The principles Pink shares in this book have definitely worked well for my husband's company- and just make sense when human nature is considered.
Looks interesting! This time of year is a good one for reading inspirational material and making real changes. Thanks for sharing.
Heard an interview with him on NPR about this book. I am a grad student studying Management and Leadership - motivation is a huge part of that. I plan on checking this book out.