Reward Effort, Not Outcome

In a commencement address at Stanford, Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke four words that encapsulate years of research on the psychology of human motivation: "Reward effort, not outcome.” 

Pichai is tapping into the power of creating sources of intrinsic motivation: People are moved to do something because they enjoy it, love the challenge, or find it intriguing…not to gain a reward or avoid punishment. This strategy he says, works well not just with your employees but also with your kids. Although it might seem counterintuitive, science backs up this approach. Here’s why:
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• Your employees (and kids) will procrastinate less: Being driven by results that please others (extrinsic motivation) can reduce long-term productivity. When we become singularly focused on a goal and the steps required to reach it, we can fall into the trap of socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP). Research shows SPP is linked to anxiety and depression—and to avoid those feelings, we may procrastinate.
• They will think outside the box: When effort is rewarded we are more likely to take risks. Risk-taking is how innovation occurs. Additionally, research suggests that intrinsic motivation spurs creativity.​
• They will stay motivated: Focusing on what really motivates us about what we do--how emotionally invested we are in it, how interested we are in it, how it contributes to our sense of self—is an endless well, and is therefore a very sustainable type of motivation.

When was the last time someone celebrated your effort regardless of outcome, and how did you respond? To join the conversation, click "comments" above. We would love to about your experience!

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