Ideas worth spreading

The puzzle of motivation

29,954,633 views |

Dan Pink |

TEDGlobal 2009

• July 2009

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward.

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Sign up for a Drive workshop and find out what motivates you.

About the speaker

Daniel H. Pink

See speaker profile

Daniel H. Pink is the author of several provocative, bestselling books about business, work, creativity and behavior.

Daniel Coyle | Arrow Books, 2010 | Book

The Talent Code

A savvy and snappy compilation of some of the best research on talent. I've given away more than a dozen copies of this one — including to my own kids.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2008 | Book

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

The classic book that introduced the idea of "flow" — those delicious moments when the challenge we face is so exquisitely matched to our capabilities that we lose our sense of time, even our sense of self.

Edward L. Deci and Richard Flaste | Penguin Books, 1996 | Book

Why We Do What We Do

Edward L. Deci is a legend in the study of motivation, and this 1996 book offers a nice early introduction to his work.

Carol Dweck | Ballantine Books, 2007 | Book

One the most important books a parent can read. Seriously. Get it now.

David Epstein | Current Trade, 2014 | Book

The Sports Gene

A fascinating book that shows that in some pursuits, practice, practice, practice is more effective when you've got the right genes, genes, genes.

Steven Pressfield | Black Irish Entertainment, 2012 | Book

An essential read on overcoming resistance in the quest for mastery.

| Explore

Readings on self-determination theory

Much of the work I write about in Drive comes out of the University of Rochester. You can find a great selection of academic papers on self-determination theory online.

| Watch

Dan Pink: My 5 favorite TED Talks on work

You can't go wrong by watching my five favorite TED Talks about work.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Sign up for a Drive workshop and find out what motivates you.