The puzzle of motivation | Dan Pink

The capitalist belief is that if you want people to perform better, you reward them with bonuses and commissions.  But that isn't how it works.

Incentives block thinking and dull creativity.  Incentives either don't work or cause harm.

When it comes to extrinsic motivators and intrinsic motivators, it's not even close which is more effective at motivating people.

Incentives narrow our focus and restricts our possibilities.

What motivates people is:
Autonomy - the urge to control our own lives
Mastery - the desire to get better and better at something that matters
Purpose - the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves

Encyclopedia Britanica vs. Wikipedia