Motivation is not something you do to people. People ultimately choose to be motivated —

The only thing leaders can do is shape the conditions under which others do, or don’t, choose to be motivated.

But the final choice is theirs. 

Ron Carucci, co-founder & managing partner. Navalent

takeaways of note:

Have ever received a compliment from your boss that actually offended you? …10-year study of more than 200,000 employees shows that 79% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason

According to Gallup’s 2017 “State of the American Workplace” report, only 21% agree their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work

3 offensive forms of “motivating”

(1) Making Stuff Up, (2) Guilt Gratitude, (3) Drive-by Praise

More-meaningful expressions of recognition:

(1) Ask for the story, (2) Contextualize gratitude, (3) Acknowledge the cost