Germany - land of poets, thinkers ... and discussions about a lack of motivation.
Is this really the picture we want to paint? Or are we misjudging something fundamental in the debate? Are we perhaps stuck in a dead end because we are asking the wrong questions?
People talk too much about performance and too little about the prerequisites for it.
Commitment is demanded, but are the necessary incentives also offered?
Expertise is expected, but is enough invested in its development?
One possible answer to these questions is the lorry formula:
PERFORMANCE = CAN x WILL.
Simple but concise.
It gets to the heart of the matter: performance does not come from pressure, but from the interplay of ability and motivation.
ABILITY: This is more than just specialised knowledge. It encompasses the entire range of competences - from analytical thinking and creative problem solving to social intelligence. Ability must be encouraged through training and further education, mentoring and the courage to try new things.
WILL: This is about inner drive, passion and commitment. Willingness is closely linked to meaningfulness and appreciation.
The lorry formula shows that even the most talented employee performs poorly if there is a lack of motivation. And conversely, the greatest enthusiasm will fizzle out if the necessary skills are not available. It's all about striking the right balance.
What does this mean for companies, for managers, for society as a whole?
We need to move away from purely demanding performance and towards a culture of support. This means investing in the development of skills, creating meaningful working environments and rewarding performance appropriately.
Instead of complaining about a lack of motivation, we should ask ourselves: How can people be empowered and motivated to realise their full potential? When ability and willingness come together, a dynamic is created that benefits everyone. Companies gain in productivity, employees gain in satisfaction and society gains in progress.
Maybe it's time to restart the discussion ...