Articles
Punished by Rewards
The following review is taken from a pivotal article by Alfie Kohn in 1993. The paper can be ordered from Harvard Business Review (Sept. 1993). I will also provide my own comments on each point and offer some additional materials that amplify Mr. Kohn’s point of view.
This article is important because it gives a summary of studies that contradict the common misperception that giving tangible rewards will improve performance. The conclusions go against conventional wisdom and need to be considered before any incentive program is considered.
Punished by Rewards (.pdf 67K)
The preceding information was adapted from the book The TRUST Factor: Advanced Leadership for Professionals, by Robert Whipple.
Robert Whipple is also the author of Leading with Trust is like Sailing Downwind and, Understanding E-Body Language: Building Trust Online. Bob consults and speaks on these and other leadership topics. He is CEO of Leadergrow Inc. a company dedicated to growing leaders. Email Bob or call 585-392-7763. The Trust Ambassador Blog.
