Why Motivating People Doesn't Work...and What Does (Second Edition)

More Breakthroughs for Leading, Energizing, and Engaging

By: Susan Fowler

Narrated by: Susan Fowler

What if the answer to motivating people is to stop trying to motivate them?

The second edition of this best seller reveals how motivation science is essential for solving the most vexing leadership issues—from hybrid work and retention to employee engagement.

Leaders face a motivation dilemma. Traditional command-and-control management styles and carrot-and-stick motivation techniques have been proven ineffective.

Motivation researcher and leadership consultant Susan Fowler expands on her groundbreaking Spectrum of Motivation model in this updated post-pandemic edition. New chapters tackle motivation science’s role in managing remote and hybrid work; expose overused tactics, such as gamification and tokens; and tell the fascinating backstory behind the great resignation and quiet quitting.

Fowler’s approach to leadership is fresh, pragmatic, and inspiring. But it’s also empirically sound. Her framework builds on self-determination theory, equipping leaders with skills to encourage choice, deepen connection, and build competence. Leaders who mastered this method have experienced breakthroughs with higher retention, lower turnover, greater acceptance of DEIJ initiatives, and a more vital, creative, and resilient workforce.

Through her experiences working with organizations and leaders around the world, Fowler reminds us that motivation is at the heart of everything people do and everything they don’t do but wish they did. When managers integrate motivation science into their everyday leadership practice, an evolutionary truth emerges—people can be highly productive and flourish simultaneously.

©2014, 2017, 2023 Susan Fowler (P)2023 Susan Fowler

Title

Good information . Brought about a new way of thinking at least. I’m in a leadership position and always looking for ways to motivate.

Perfectly validates inherent truths through research

Gets to the point, makes logical conclusions, easy to listen, and complete! Great book for those looking to improve a struggling organization.

Ever leader should listen

Excellent book that provides theory and practical application. This puts several concepts I have tried to articulate at work into words.

boring

i could not help it.. i kept falling asleep, i tried to stay focused, but i cant do it.

Big claims from shallow depths

I'll keep it simple, there's a good amount in truth but ultimately a shallow depth. The 6 motivations or the 3 C's, miss the big picture of building up a person's character. Not just shallow techniques to "better align yourself" or "support/respect a person's feelings." Also, sly political and woke agends are hidden in the framework. The book reinforces woke concepts concealing it's Marxist thinking in well crafted stories.