Bulldozer00's Blog

Alfie Kohn‘s “Punished By Rewards” is the classic go-to book on why/how rewards destroy intrinsic motivation and fuel intra-group competition and politicking. In “Want To Stay Productive? Turn Down The Next Award You Win“, Drake Baer gives yet another example of the motivation-busting effect of reward systems.

Do medals, advanced degrees, fancy titles, and huge bonuses tend to fatten the heads of their receivers (and their givers) to the point of lazyness? Do they create an attitude of entitlement in the minds of their receivers (and their givers)?

W00t! I’ve arrived! No need to do real work anymore. I’ve been placed above the herd by those who have the “authority” to do so – and who, by extension, are two levels above the herd.