Everybody needs to get AMP‘d in their life. I’m not referring to the soft drink nor the image of weightlifters pumping up, rather the precepts from Daniel Pink’s book Drive. AMP stands for Autonomy / Mastery / Purpose.
Quick Definitions:
Autonomy: Acting with choice
Mastery: The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Purpose: Perform in service of some greater objective
When these elements are present in our work and personal life, there is a much greater level of satisfaction, higher productivity, and an increase in psychological well-being.
Making New Friends
So what does AMP look like in real life? When I was in my late 20’s I realized there was a big world out there that I had never seen. I stashed what little possessions I owned in storage and jumped off with both feet exploring 18 countries over 7 months. The autonomy came from having only purchased a few plane flights ahead of time, which left me the ability to choose as a solo traveler my own adventure as the times dictated. This was much different than being suffocated by a travel tour or cruise ship itinerary. There was something exciting about having that choice – “what do I want to do today”? I was very green when I left US soil, but after dealing with customs agents demanding bribes to get into their country or getting sick in a 3rd world country, I was a travel king when I returned state side. Having seen the ultra-clean streets of Singapore to begging children on the streets of Calcutta, I had a greater perspective on life and more of a purpose in my work.
As a physical education college instructor, I have incorporated these principles into my lesson plan as well. Each day students are given a framework for the day and permission to fail at what they attempt, then given the autonomy and freedom to self-direct their workouts. Rather than control exactly what their workout will be, they can choose different equipment and exercises while in a supportive environment. This support allows them to practice and over time, master these exercises. Because they are working on goals they self-selected, there is a greater sense of purpose since the results will affect them. At the end of the term, it is very rewarding to the students to see that they met or surpassed their goal and surprised at how much they accomplished. It gives them a strong sense of self and the confidence to reach further than they thought possible.
In this challenging economic climate, everyone is searching for new ways to increase productivity while trying to save money. If your idea bank is empty, give Daniel Pink’s AMP a try within your department. Things that are counterintuitive to the general main stream management philosophies, usually work. Folks are just too afraid to swim upstream. Your employees know how to do their jobs better than you do, so as their manager, give them the goal to work towards and tell them why it is important, then stand back and let them go. They may not get the end result the same way you would have, but they may come up with something you did not think of. Without someone standing over their back, watch as productivity soars, creativity flourishes, and your employees’ job satisfaction increases with their new found autonomy and purpose. Best part is you won’t have to use carrot or stick incentives to motivate them as their internal drive to be creative and master their job will be the inspiration they need. Don’t forget, it’s free and won’t hurt the budget.
For further AMP details, check out Daniel Pink‘s book Drive at your local bookstore.