The book, “Why We Work” by Barry Schwartz, is a TED Book that dives into the world of human motivation and explores the question of why we do the things we do every day in our work lives. Schwartz explores the modern dichotomy between motivation and reward, and examines the implications of this in the workplace. He combines philosophical insights and research-based evidence to make a compelling argument that our current approaches to work often ignore what fundamentally motivates us in life.
Schwartz begins by introducing two seemingly opposing approaches to motivation: the extrinsic and the intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation consists of rewards and punishments that are external to the individual. They may take the form of financial incentives, yet the purpose is to modify behavior by pushing people to work harder and faster. Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is driven by personal interests or values that come from within. This type of motivation comes from a genuine love of the activity, or a commitment to a cause, and leads to more material achievements.
Rather than choose one or the other of these two approaches, Schwartz suggests a combination of strategies for achieving optimal motivation. While introducing rewards and punishments can certainly be effective, there are other ways to foster an environment ripe for achieving great things. For example, Schwartz argues that having a sense of autonomy and control over one’s work is important for making people feel like their efforts are meaningful and worth the effort. He also emphasizes the power of intrinsic reward; the feeling of satisfaction that is the result of making progress towards our goals.
Schwartz argues for more open-ended forms of engagement in the workplace. He suggests that managers need to promote an environment that is conducive to creative exploration and encourages employee autonomy. For instance, Schwartz points to the notion of “play” to explain how allowing employees to pursue creative paths can lead to greater accomplishments. “Play” is characterized by Schwartz as “open exploration within constraints”; a form of engagement that allows employees to make meaningful contributions to projects while maintaining their autonomy.
At its core, Schwartz’s book is a call to action for us to shift our approach to work. He argues that the most effective way of creating the optimal work environment is to think beyond extrinsic rewards and punishments and focus on what truly motivates us from within. The book provides a unique and thought-provoking perspective on work, and serves as an excellent starting point for any company looking to get the most out of its employees.
