Hi there, and I have got a new quote lesson to discuss from a book, and the book is from Daniel H. Pink, titled Drive. The quote says:
“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.”
It is always about the quote that keeps me guessing about the meaning that captivates my writing on these books. There has to be something involved that will grab my interest, and this time it is word control and autonomy. What is the author trying to say when he says that control leads to compliance and autonomy leads to engagement? This is one of the things that gets me involved with any book.
The quote centers on motivation. It boils down to the idea that life is governed by the forces of control. You push people hard enough, and they will deliver, or you incentivize with rewards or punishment; this is what will push them into being motivated. When you think about it, a lot of what we do has to do with how motivated we are. It is about what is governing you or what is pushing you to do what you are doing. It is either a product of reward, what you stand to gain, or punishment, what will happen if you do not deliver.
Well, here is the thing: Daniel H. Pink chooses to differ from what it is. He chooses to see the other direction, so he thinks that this form of control as motivation for people, either reward or punishment, is only on a surface level, and it does not run deep. This is where autonomy comes into play. Daniel H. Pink believes that when people are made a part of what they are doing, it no longer feels like an obligation; it becomes a part of them, where they are in charge. He believes that when people are in charge of their actions and what they do instead of being controlled, they can do what they truly want and not see it as some form of task that has to be completed. He even goes ahead to ask one to question themselves on the last time they were involved in a project or some activity of a kind where they have ownership. This ownership served as a drive for creativity and getting the work done rather than when they are controlled. Daniel H. Pink's argument is that people perform better when they are trusted than when they are controlled.
This idea of control is the reason why people are bored with their jobs and not interested in doing better, since they are told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Basically, their actions are being controlled whether they like it or not, which in turn leads to a lack of innovation and burnout. It is about the idea of not being committed since control is involved. While autonomy provides the room for ownership within the structure. It is not about being loose when being autonomous, but it is about trusting the fact that you are taking charge of certain outcomes. Letting your innovation flow since you know that you have been trusted to do your thing. It is built on the premise of trust that the person will take ownership of their action and get it done. This is what Daniel H. Pink is sharing through his quote: “Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.”
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