At work, as a manager, as a team leader, we see people doing special feats sometimes, achieving something extraordinary and going out of the way to perform, putting extra efforts and ultimately achieving success.
I’ve classified such performers into 2 types:
- Those who first evaluate what they would get in return for the extra effort.
- Those who put in the effort by virtue of self-drive and look for the benefits later.
Consider the first type: in a work place environment, why should anyone do something without knowing what would be the reward? Why should an employee go out of his way to achieve if he/she is not sure of getting a special reward? Several people think this way. This type of people make sure that the result is first clear: an extra effort is to result in a raise, an incentive, an award, a party; something which becomes the motivation for putting in the extra effort. Nothing wrong of course in demanding some motivation before putting in that extra work.
But consider how you, as a manager or team leader, would feel if you are dealing with such a person, if you first have to commit the returns and then get a job done. A bargain must be made and a deal sealed for something that needs to be done in the best interest of the work. You could say to yourself – “That’s how things are, that’s the way this guy is” and move on, but does it give a really good feeling?
Hold on this question for some time while we look a little further!
Now, consider another person who comes up and does the job first. The employee goes out of the way to achieve a deadline – and does not expect that a return be decided before hand or even given to him/her. As his manager or team leader, would you feel good and obliged to show your appreciation by doing something in return? Most of the time the answer would be – “Yes”! That’s typically how a manager or team leader would feel.
In a gist, what matters actually is one’s self drive to achieve and do well, not what one bargains for as a result. Most times, people who bargain for their reward before the effort may get their way once or twice but not always. They forget that there are also others who put their work before the reward, who would get ahead faster and happier.
Those who ask may not be the people who get.
If you have to choose a way to success and happiness, you need to make this choice: Either work for rewards from others or work for your satisfaction. I prefer the second way, it generally yields success and in the least definitely makes me feel happy.
Subhash Iyer 