We seem to have built a world where reward in the form of money, position, compliments and promises is an integral part of how we operate. We reward our children for doing what we expect, employees for doing their work and the ultimate reward for living a ‘good’ life, apparently, is a place in heaven. It is so much engrained that we rarely take the time to consider if there’s any other way.
The problem with reward
Actually there are several problems, as I see it.
1 It works … up to a point
As a tool for manipulation or coercion it’s highly effective and based on a fairly primitive view of how we are as human beings. If it didn’t work I doubt it would be so common and it’s clear many people (me included!) do things to get rewarded and avoid punishment.
Just because something works doesn’t mean it’s the best way to get things done.
Once upon a time ships were powered by slaves, the Earth was flat and humans were sacrificed to appease the gods. Times change, we learn new things and gain new understanding about how the world works – including how we ‘work’.
I think it has become pretty well understood that reward works in the short term and to get aims met, rather than a more holistic motivation.
Once the reward is earned there’s no longer any forward movement and the system needs to keep feeding itself. There’s no longer term motivation and neither the means nor the goals have to be useful, meaningful or have value.
2 Fear (and greed)
Reward goes hand in hand with punishment. The two are inseparable because, even where no punishment is threatened, the failure to get a reward is a punishment in itself.
And reward often uses greed to get things done and punishment uses fear.
These aren’t the most endearing of human traits! And they reinforce the ‘ends justify the means’ approach to getting things done.
3 Power over
The whole concept sets up a reward bestower who has power over the receiver.
Bestowers of rewards include parents, teachers, employers and the ultimate bestower, God (at least as God is taught in some doctrines). Anywhere you find ‘authority’, you will almost certainly find reward and punishment operating. It is one of the tools that those in positions of authority use to keep themselves there. And in most cases it’s combined with superior power – either physical, emotional or moral.
I have 2 concerns about this.
- whenever I respond to reward (or punishment) I give away my power to an authority figure. I stop taking responsibility and I expect to be looked after.
- while I’m a great believer in humankind, I also realise not one of us is perfect and power has a nasty habit of becoming abused and misused.
Is there another way?
Do you believe that if rewards are taken away as a motivating tool, things would still get done?
Well, I doubt that everything you do is motivated by seeking gain or avoiding punishment. I do many things willingly, even joyfully without any external influences. Probably most of what I do, and most of the things I truly enjoy, I do because I want to and not because I want to be given something as a result.
I believe motivation comes from inside. It comes when my needs are being taken care of, when my life and the lives of others are being enriched in some way – not from the reward but from the act itself.
For example, I prepare food and wash up because I enjoy feeding myself and I enjoy cleanliness and order. I write because it gives me a sense of purpose and interaction with you. I run workshops because I enjoying sharing, learning and the community this brings me. I could go on …
The ‘reward’ (if I can call it that) is through meeting these various needs and from the activity itself. I don’t rely on anyone ‘giving’ me or ‘awarding’ me anything. If I receive money or praise then I take that as feedback I’ve done something that others have enjoyed.
This kind of motivation comes when I’m in touch with my inner drivers, my needs, my values. I don’t need external reward and I’m not putting my power in the hands of others.
And when I’m connected to this internal power of my own, I never want to use reward or punishment to get others to do what I want them to do.
Not at home, not at work and not anywhere.
