CONFERENCES
Alfie Kohn,
Author of Punished
by Rewards
Speaking Topics
THE CASE AGAINST COMPETITION
Contrary to American myth, competition and excellence actually pull in opposite directions. The more an individual or organization is consumed with the struggle to be Number One, the less likely it is that quality can be sustained. Moreover, research and experience demonstrate that competition is both psychologically destructive and poisonous to our relationships. This presentation shows why any arrangement in which one person's success depends on another's failure is bound to be counterproductive. It also considers why cooperation is integral to success, how the idea of teamwork is often misunderstood, and what other ingredients are required for attaining quality in the workplace.
PUNISHED BY REWARDS
Most American executives are Skinnerians at heart, having accepted a carrot-and-stick model of motivation originally developed on laboratory animals. Extensive research shows, however, that rewards and punishments are two sides of the same coin . . . and the coin doesn't buy very much. In fact, incentive plans of any kind are likely to undermine quality, and the more closely pay is conditioned on performance, the more damage is done. Positive reinforcement amounts to "control by seduction," and control is incompatible with intrinsic motivation and excellence. Kohn explains the implications of this critique in thinking about compensation systems, praise, and the encouragement of teamwork.
QUALITY AS DEMOCRACY: Toward
a Participative Workplace
Many of the familiar principles of Quality management amount to an elaboration of this simple truth: an innovative, healthy organization requires that we work with people rather than do things to them. The latter strategy is exemplified by rewards systems, performance appraisal, and competition -- all symptoms of top-down control. By contrast, as Kohn explains, the logical conclusion of a "working with" approach to management extends beyond teamwork or empowerment: it requires the replacement of hierarchical systems with real participative democracy.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Other programs include a full-day seminar ("Beyond Competition and Rewards") that combines the first two topics; and several seminars co-facilitated with Peter Scholtes, including "Motivation from the Inside Out" and "Redefining Leadership."