Just finished reading this book by Susan Fowler. The title was interesting and look at the subtitle: “More breakthroughs for leading, energizing, and engaging.” Therefore, I decided to see what the author has to say. However, I was disappointed.
Fowler’s point is that people have already a motivation to work. The work of the leader is to help them understand what motivates them. She is against the idea of incentive through reward system because it is not sustainable. Once the rush for the incentive is gone, people return to their common habits. Therefore, it is better for a leader to make people feel that they have a choice, that they are cared for, and they are effective and are flourishing, then people will naturally do their jobs.
Fowler gives some good insights. She gives examples of people who do not want economic incentives, or not need them. Rather, their motivation comes from having more time to spend with family, for example. In this way, the author’s advice is to dig dipper in people’s self-realization.
Another helpful comment was to point out that the purpose of a company is not to make money. Making money should be part of what a company does, but it is like eating and breathing for a person; the purpose of life of a person is not eating and breathing. The purpose of a company, then, should be to serve others.
I agree with her positive thoughts. However, they are not necessarily innovative. I felt kind of deceived by the title of the book. At the end, what Fowler is saying is that old style motivation, through incentives, is not effective. What works is to motivate people to follow their motivation. Therefore, motivation works, just the right kind of motivation.
Now, a breakthrough for leading, energizing, and engaging? The church has been teaching these things like forever. The Bible teaches us that humans were created with a purpose. Only when we can fulfill our purpose of life, we can be truly happy. The first question of the Westminster Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” and the answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” When a person has a restored relationship with God, then she can know her true purpose of life, to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
How is glorifying God and seeking to enjoy him forever the true source of motivation for humans? Paul said, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col 3:23). When we glorify God and seek to enjoy him forever, we know that we are doing all things for God’s glory, not for men. Then, we will do all things the best we can.
For the ungodly, probably the fact that discovering their purpose of life is a motivation fuel is a breakthrough. In this point, I must acknowledge that it is in part the church’s fault. It is the church fault not to be more carrying in preaching the gospel and teaching good doctrine.
Would I recommend this book? Maybe, but probably not. I would recommend reading the Bible and going to church. Discover what God has planned for your life, and you will live a happy, flourishing, fulfilled life, which will fuel your motivation to do your best in everything you need to do. Otherwise, keep being amazed by discovering what the church already has been teaching for millennia what the Bible says about God and us, human beings.