Many moons ago, we were commissioned, by a major Auction House, to write, design and produce a series of five audiovisual shows, to structure a Staff Induction Program. Part of the assignment involved filming and still photography work, at the Client’s New York Saleroom.
Whilst there, I was invited to a viewing of a collection of pictures and furniture that was to be sold. The viewing, and the reception that took place, beforehand, was attended by potential buyers and members of the Press. I think that I fell into the ‘miscellaneous guests’ category.
Circulating amongst the guests, I met a charming married couple, called Henry and Isabelle. In conversation, I discovered that Hank (What else!) was a, recently, retired Vice-President of Engineering of a substantial injection-moulding corporation. I never miss an opportunity of learning something new, from the experience of proven managers and so I asked Hank if he could offer any insights on managing people; specifically, what was it that motivated people to achieve?
His answer ran something like this:
“Well Al, let me illustrate my approach with a story. Back in Oregon, where Isabelle and I live, we keep an old hound dog, called Benjy. There’s nothing that Benjy likes more than going off on a truffle hunt. (For the culinary uninitiated, truffles belong to the fungi family and grow below ground. They are added to a variety of dishes to provide a really unique flavour. They are much prized by professional chefs).
I know that Benjy has, both, the innate and learnt skills to smell out truffles. I can get him to the right place and give him the freedom to get on and do his job. I can, even, reward him for a job well done. But that is not why he finds truffles. Benjy has his own reasons.
That’s how I have, always, viewed Motivation. Our job, as managers, is to ‘get people to the right place’. It should provide all the necessary material resources as well as the relevant training, recognition, decision-making freedom, opportunities to be creative, encouragement and, yes, of course, reward. But all these things, only, provide the circumstances in which people can become motivated. Their motivation, actually, comes from within. Like Benjy, people achieve job objectives for their own reasons.”
I don’t know what formal management training Hank had experienced but, in our short conversation, he had, succinctly, outlined Herzberg’s Theory on Motivation, from first principles.
I’ve never forgotten Hank and Benjy.
My conversation, with Hank, contributed to the DNA of the following Training Package