Creating value
Today was our first full lecture day that started with Professor Vera Negri Zamagni in the morning who gave us a fascinating lecture of Co-operation and Economic Development in Emilia Romagna.
We then had a tour of the Industrial Heritage Museum of Bologna where we learned about the starting of industrialism in the 1700s. Did you know that Bologna used to have a vast system of canals that ran through the city (now covered) to power the production of silk and four mills?
Then Professor Stefano Zamagni joined us in the in the afternoon speaking of Social Co-operatives, Social Enterprises and Economics of Vocation. If I wrote down everything I learned today I would be here all night writing as it was a full day of learning, so I will share what resonated the most with me in the day.
When I heard Professor Stefano first speak the word vocation, I immediately thought of a priest or a nun, but what Stefano was referring to was that an employee had a vocation if they were intrinsically motivated—being motivated internally not through the money they earn. Companies can increase this intrinsic value through FAIRNESS to employees (in proportion not equality such as work-life balance for parents), RESPECT (investing in career development by taking the risk that the employee may leave the company) and SOCIAL COMMITMENT. Each of the three elements has to be present in order to achieve a higher intrinsic value for ‘vocational’ employees. But I wonder if an organization, like Vancity, that perhaps has all elements in place already, is there one of the three that will make our employees more engaged leading to better member engagement and thus a more successful co-operative? What do you think? Which one of the three would make you more engaged?
Also, Stefano stated that if an employee had no vocation, then the three above intrinsic elements, would be irrelevant--meaning that even if we apply all three elements, this ‘non-vocational’ employee would not find it beneficial. They are only extrinsically motivated by money for example. I challenge you to help me figure out if there is a way to change non-vocational employees to having this intrinsic motivation. Are they capable? How?
In my opinion, money is a
In my opinion, money is a form of energy. Ask, if you had the money, what could money do for you? If you could have the employee visualize what they can DO with their money or what their money can do for them, this is a step in the right direction. For motivation it`s important for people to know their Values in life. Values are the things that are important to us, they cannot be put into a wheelbarrel meaning they are emotions. When we know what we are emotional about, this can create the internal motivation necessary for change. A value is usually an emotion from within, that moves us. For example if you were to ask an employee their values on Career, one could ask "what is important to you about Career?" the person might answer, "freedom". Ok great, then ask, what else is important to you about Career?" Answer, "stability" and so on. If you were to have the person list about 7-9 values in Career then they will now know what is important to them`. The next step would be asking,`why is Freedom important to you....why is Stability important to you and so on. They will figure out what is important and why. These are steps to finding our internal drivers, motivations.
When they find list their values surrounding Career,Money,Health, Spirituality, Family, they will create a balance in their life. Money is only one part of this life balance. This life balance exercis can be quite liberating and equally motivating because each person has the chance to empower themselves. Instead of focusing on Money they now have a whole new meaning to their life and this can often times release the pressure of focusig on money and allow them to relax knowing money is on the way. Now they need a goal. Ask, What can a Money do for you? Bring to you? Help you with, in your future? Explain a career can bring you the Mone. So now that they know what is important to them about having the career, they can have the motivation towards receiving the money, to get the things for their future or the moment whether it be material possessions or travel or education or other pursuits.
To recap, if we know what our Values are in life, what is important to us, this will fuel us to move forward. If we have a goal, this is our target for movement. All we need is a realistic timeline and a date to acheive this go and poof!! we are moving forward! Alas, Intrinsically motivated! Our emotions are hard wired into us and they are there to help us. Once we know our Values and we commit to ourselves to acheive our goals our dreams are limitless. Empower people to empower themselves and they will have reasons to have the life they desire!! It`s all about shifting focus on the big picture and then taking the necessary action steps to get there!
Good luck.