The carrot and stick approach to inducing behaviours has been around for years – combining rewards or punishment has been thought to be an effective way to mould behaviour. But does this approach really work? Do people change their behaviour under those circumstances – and can employee engagement be driven by rewards and incentives?

Well, I came across the following two videos this week that speak to the core of what really motivates people. The first, a TED talk by Dan Pink on Motivation. Dan really challenges our traditional beliefs about what motivates employees to want to perform at their best. Spoiler Alert…it isn’t carrots and sticks.

And the second video by Volkswagen Sweden and ad agency DDB Stockholm, who tackled the question: “How do you get more people to take the stairs?”

HT on the Volkswagon clip to: Garr Reynolds