Incentive Intelligence

Recognition is so powerful it is attracting SPAM

I found this very, very interesting.

According to Dave Gallagher, the business editor at The Bellington Herald in Bellington, WA there is a scam going around that preys on businesses who desire recognition.

The scam - called "Vanity Awards" - typically starts with an email note to a business saying they have been chosen as "The Best (fill in blank.) The business is then directed to a web site where they can order their plaque to commemorate that honor.

I find it interesting that the desire for recognition is so strong (both for individuals and businesses) it is driving criminal activity.  Criminals typically don't like to participate in anything unless it's easy and a sure thing. 

Promising recognition obviously meets both their criteria.

Are You Motivated by a Carrot?

The light bulb has been used as the symbol for an idea or for innovation for a good number of years.  Roger Van Oech - inventor of the "Ball of Whacks," author of "A Whack on the Side of the Head" (and other creativity-starters) and the blog Creative Think, has reposted a blog entry from about a year ago entitled: Death Notice of a Creativity Metaphor."

The question his post asks is this... is a 125 year old invention still a good icon for new ideas and innovation?

After reading Roger's post a light bulb (oops) went off in my mind and I have to ask the question...

Think about the genesis of this idea - the carrot and the stick - it has to do with getting a donkey to move...the carrot being the reward for movement and the stick punishment for not moving.

I don't know about you but I'm a bit insulted with this metaphor and what it represents. 

Are You A Donkey?

Are your employees, channel partners or consumers donkeys?  Are they stubborn, stupid, long-eared, hairy and easily swayed by the promise of a base award like food?  I get that it is a somewhat apt representation of the concept of reward and punishment, but I don't think that most people would appreciate it.

At one point it might have been the way things were - employees were just beasts of burden doing things that machines hadn't been invented to do yet.  Today however I think we're way past that point of view.  Our work environment is less about individual tasks and piece-meal work but more about collaboration, teamwork, innovation, and other knowledge-based activities.  The carrot and stick just doesn't apply.

People who support your company as employees, or who work with other companies to distribute and sell your products and services and those that are labeled as consumers - are much more than simple analogs for machines and typically much more intelligent than your average donkey (well... I do have some stories... but that is another post.)

Time for Change

The incentive and performance improvement industry has adopted and continues to perpetuate this metaphor and icon.  Heck I even have a book called the "Carrot Principle" on my shelf - written by professionals in the recognition world.  The site associated with this book is labeled "The Carrot Culture."  The side bar lists books such as:

• A Carrot A Day - A daily dose of recognition for your employees.
• The 24-Carrot Manager -A remarkable story of how a leader can unleash human potential.
• Managing With Carrots - Using recognition to attract and retain the best people.

I purposely don't link to these books or the site because I don't want to continue to promote carrots as a motivational metaphor.  I don't know about you, but the titles listed above reduce a complex set of principles and activities down to a much too simple instinctual metaphor - and insult the audience.

I'm sure that some of the sidelong glances the motivation industry gets from its own clients are driven by the continued use of this metaphor.  The concept of carrot and stick creates and aura of duplicity and manipulation - when in reality we're talking about alignment of values and goals.  I don't believe incentive and recognition programs manipulate as much as "guide."  I'm sure someone will make the point that those words may have distinction but no difference.  Let them - I respect my audience and in my mind there are big differences.

No More Carrots

I'm done with it.   I'm done with the carrot and the stick - it has run it's course.

So I ask the same question about motivation that Roger asked about innovation - what is the new image/icon/metaphor for motivation and influence?  I have some thoughts but I'm more interested in your opinion.

What should the new image of motivation be?  How should we represent the science and art of connecting and aligning individual and team behavior with a company's goals - and as important - how we align company behavior with individual's goals. 

Your call - what's the new image of motivation?  You never know - it could be the cover of a book some day. 

Blog Memes...Breaking Away

I have been tagged by Ann Bares of Compensation Force with a new blog meme.  I love Ann's blog and if you have any input on compensation within your organization it is a resource you should be aware of.

For those of you new to the concept a blog "meme" is sort of like a chain letter for bloggers.  Typically, they ask a question, ask for your answer and then ask you to "tag" or forward the meme on to other bloggers you know or wish to know.

I've participated in these and even tagged Ann a few times.  But the last couple of times I participated in them I felt a bit off-putting to those that I tagged.

I'm torn on this one guys/gals.  From a blogging perspective it is one way to get your blog connected to others that may or may not be aware of your blog... and helps with your Technorati Rating since part of the process is to link back to the blog that sent you the meme - therefore, it has a way of multiplying your rating on Technorati.

But I'm thinking the "meme" of memes has kind of gotten old.  When blogs were somewhat "new" to the world - and they were more casual and personal - it might have made sense to have this sort of "telephone" game.  But I'm wondering if it has moved past the point of "fun" to the point of a pain?

Now I feel a bit reluctant to forward on these exercises to other blogs.  Mostly because the blogs I read are connected to business issues and are predominately there to further a company or business purpose.   Not too many blogs I subscribe to are the "online journals" that birthed today's blogosphere.  I get that blogs are more casual and should communicate the personality of the company (blogger) but I almost feel like I'm forwarding a chain letter on to potential clients, partners, advisors, etc. 

I don't think I would do that in the atom-based world.

Influence Lesson

Here's where I turn my rant into a post that connects back to the purpose of this blog.

For those of you who read regularly you've seen me write about the concept of "social proof" or "consensus" as a way of influencing behavior.  In short - people do what other people do - 95% of the world looks to the other 5% to know what is appropriate behavior.  Until someone sees another person exhibiting a behavior there is no way that individual knows if it is acceptable and will default to previous behaviors.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and be one of the 5%.  I am hoping others follow my lead and we build consensus on these blog memes and change some behavior.

Here's where this 5% stands.

I'm creating my own meme... one of not tagging.

I'll answer any meme that comes my way (as I will this one - see end of post) and link back to the one who tagged me, but I will not be forwarding on the meme - or tagging - any additional bloggers.  I will ask folks to play along and link to the meme if they want to play and if they think the meme is worthy of input.  But I'm going organic on this one - no active solicitation - if you read this blog and have a blog and want to play - come on down!

Now... on to answering Ann's meme...

The rules:

1. Provide a list of the books you’re currently reading
2. Pick up the nearest book
3. Open to page 123
4. Find the fifth sentence
5. Post the next three sentences
6. Tag five more people

Here goes:

Books I'm reading:

Groundswell - Li & Bernoff
Peak - Chip Conley
Laws of Simplicity - Maeda
The Myths of Innovation - Berkun
Obsession - Kellerman (I know - not business - I got it at an airport)

Nearest book - The Laws of Simplicity

Open to page 123 - oops - only has 100 pages (go figure with a book on simplicity)

Repeat steps 2 and 3 with new book -The Myths of Innovation

Count to the fifth sentence on page 123... Post the next three sentences...

But those "better" ideas were demanding in ways that would have raised barriers to adoption in 1991.  At best, they would have cost more to build and taken more time to engineer.  We can't know whether those additional barriers would have prevented the Web from succeeding, or merely have changed its ascension.

Tag  five more people - Nope.  See body of post.

There ya go folks - a new meme is born - and it looks just like its Daddy!

Decades into 6 Words

Rowan Manahan from the Emerald Isle and the H₂O behind Fortify Your Oasis, has tagged me to continue a meme floating through the blogosphere.

This one is to comprise a memoir of only 6 words.  It would have been much easier to do had I been asked for 600.  But constraints are great tools to use when looking for vital thoughts (there's another post in that thought about vital behaviors and results - stay tuned.)

My 6-word memoir (I do hope there is no foreshadowing here)...

No fear in learning something new.

The next step is to tag five more - here are mine - I hope they continue the game.

Ann Bares

Ed Batista

Evil HR Lady

Career Encouragement Blog

Grant McKraken

The rules are:

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog, including an illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post if possible so that it can be tracked as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag at least five more blogs with links.
5. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Next?

Odd Outcomes

I spend a good bit of time in rental cars when traveling for business.  One of the great things I get to experience is satellite radio.  Specifically, the comedy channels.  A few weeks back I was in the car for about an hour and was listening to one of the comedy channels and heard a story from a comedian that was probably the funniest "clean" joke I've heard in a long time - and with a little stretching - has a lot to do with designing reward and recognition programs.

If you've paid any attention to this site over the past two years you know I have spent a lot of time talking about "unintended consequences."  Whenever you put in place an initiative to influence behavior you really need to think through all the possible ways a person could potentially achieve their goals and earn a reward.  The classic is running incentives for reducing call time in a call center.  People can earn a lot of incentives by simply cutting short the call - increasing poor customer service.

The story I heard on the radio is as follows - believe me - it is much, much funnier when I tell it in person.  Have me come in and present - you'll be sure to hear it!

The Case for Odd Outcomes

A male child was born and his parents gave him the first name of Odd.  That's right - O-D-D.  Odd.  As you would expect this became a bit of an albatross for Odd as he grew and attended school.  Children will be children and he was teased mercilessly.  He hated to go to school each day.

High school was no different.  Odd grew to be a young man with little self-esteem and continually sought out those activities where he could remain anonymous.   Odd did not attend college but took whatever job that was offered and that would also ensure he could fly below everyone's radar.  Even so, it was inevitable that people at work would find out his name  and the teasing continued throughout his adult life.

Our unfortunate subject - through whatever miracle - did manage to court and marry a fine women.  Together they were happy.  The one place that Odd could feel comfortable was with his wife.

As Odd and his wife entered their 80's Odd told his wife that when he died he did not want his name on his tombstone.  He was so crushed by the problems his name had caused throughout his life he didn't want to endure the same  strife for eternity.  All he wanted on his tombstone was the day he was born and the day he died.  Nothing else.

His wife agreed.

As it would happen Odd preceded his wife in death and his wishes were honored.  His tombstone simply listed his birth and date of his death.

Since that day, as folks stroll through the grounds on their way to visit their loved ones in the cemetery where Odd is buried, they will come upon Odd's tombstone.  Looking down on the plain stone, with just the two dates on it... they will look at each other and say...

"Isn't that Odd?"

So much for remaining anonymous for eternity.

Great story to tell when communicating the issue of unintended consequences.

Tags

I have been "tagged" by The Career Encouragement Blog - apparently there are other Buckeye fans out there - who knew after January 7th (you can still count me as one!)

The rules:

- Link to the person who tagged you.
- Post the rules on your blog.
- Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
- Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
- Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are my 6 non-important things:

1. My first job out of college was estimating manufacturing costs on the B1 Bomber and the Space Shuttle.
2. I spelled my daughter's name wrong on her birth certificate.
3. In the 6th grade, in order to feel more grown up I asked for (and received) a brief case to carry my books at school (now that's a nerd!)
4. Dividing my age by the number of places I've lived (some cities I went back and forth a couple of  times) I only average 3.5 years per location.
5. I like science fiction (another nerd strike.)
6. I like the Shreck movies (1&3 the most)

For my tag strategy - I'm going international! 

Below are three bloggers who have been extremely kind to me during my first year of blogging.

Enrique Burgos (Spain) - one of the very first people who linked to one of my posts and was the first person to wish me a happy birthday this year.  Thanks Enrique.  His blog is in Spanish so be prepared (go to babelfish.com for help.)  He recently published a book on relationship marketing and seems to be everywhere on the social network!

Julius Solaris (Italy) - from the Event Manager Blog - he an I collaborated on a post focused on "unconferences" and it was a great experience.  I am very interested in his goal of creating an open source event management technology solution. 

Angela Dillon who runs Motiv8 - an Australian incentive solutions company.  We've never corresponded directly but we've shared some links in the blogosphere and I'm interested in what she may say.  Their blog is here.

Can't wait to hear what others have to say!

Marketing Where You Find It...The Java Jitter

Incentives and promotions are marketing efforts.  Whether for consumers or channel partners - or employees - programs to influence behavior are marketing programs.

And marketing is changing.  It is more consumer driven, consumer developed, consumer influenced, etc.  I use the word consumer as a generic term meaning whomever the program/initiative is directed at - employee, distributor, dealer, etc.  The consumer is the focus - not the company.

Davido is a singer who took his gig on the road at Starbucks.  Starbucks wasn't happy. 

Take a look at the video. 

Here's a guy who could not only enhance the experience of a Starbucks customer but enhance the employee experience as well (notice the employee's faces - not the ones ordering him out of the store.) 

I'd hire him to do drop-ins at various Starbucks - do a consumer contest for Karaoke - create a special drink named after him.  Let the consumer do some marketing.  Remember, engaging customers and employees should have an element of fun.

I... Can't... Help... Myself... Aaaaargh!

I've been looking for this and it finally showed up....

Tiny Bubbles...

Boofest 2007

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that culture is defined by the folks that live it and breathe it.

At my own company we’ve adopted Halloween as our corporate holiday. We still take time off for the traditional stuff but Halloween has a special place in our heart. I don’t know if it is because we are in a creative industry that needs to constantly up the ante on our ideas with clients that creates such an affinity for Halloween – or we’re just weird - but boy we get involved in this event. In the past we’ve had people come to work as Pinatas – complete with a rope to dangle themselves from the ceiling – to human-sized lava lamps, fish tanks, you name it.

For 2007 our crew took it a step further than ever – creating entire environments – not just costumes. Two groups in particular – our Client Services group and our Operations group transformed the entire department (which is an entire floor in our building) into their little Halloween world.   

Where the Elite Meet...

First our Client Services group took a few steps backward in time and created Studio 54 – complete with décor and DJ – spinning the tunes that defined a decade.  You couldn't even enter the 5th floor unless you were on "the list" - and our bouncers made sure only the elite could get in!

JoJo the Dog-Faced Boy!

Second, Operations – typically your more stoic group – created the Circus with all the attendant side shows.

 

And of course our clients were represented – at least in spirit!

 

The "at office" festivities were followed by a “Boofest” Monster’s Ball at a local adult beverage establishment. Over 50% of our 200+ employees attended. Dancing, costume contests and general merriment took place.

It is activities like these that cement a culture that make for great companies. Mine included.

What does your company embrace to this degree?  Do you have anything that you can say you own – charity work?  Holiday?  Place in the city?  Anything you can point to as “yours”?  If you don’t – get one. If you do – share it!

I’d love to see what others are connecting to and using as a way to define who they are.

Sometimes you get the bear - sometimes the bear gets you

I laughed, I laughed, I laughed.  'Nuf said...

For those reading this within email - go to site for an embedded video.