Opal Leung's Blog

Recent iClicker question:

What motivates you?

a. money

b. fame

c. other

Among Sauder students, I was caught off guard by the fact that many people chose c. other as their answer. At the Sauder School of Business, I expected wealth and reputation to be the primary driving force. To my surprise, happiness is of higher value than many extrinsic rewards. This is a pleasant surprise because it shows that there is a human touch to the field of business and that satisfaction is not measured by the digits on a paycheque or the figures of an income statement.

This also sheds light on employee behaviour. Many employers tend to reduce turnover by increasing workers’ benefits and adding zeros to their paycheques. What they overlook is that what gives someone a push may not have the same effect on another. Not everyone is driven by money or fame, and this should be considered when bosses try to boost job satisfaction.

Money and fame are not always the driving force behind every action, every decision. Rather, happiness is a long-term goal sought by many.