« A Plan to Bring Blog Brains and Media Brains Together | Main | Regain Passion for Work and Watch Business Grow »

Jul 9
Carrots and Sticks Bring The Same to Brains and Business

According to Roland Piquepaille… Californian researchers suggested that stick or carrot.jpg“receiving a reward or avoiding a punishment have the same effects... on our brains.” Piquepaille added…” In other words, the same areas of our brains are stimulated when we win a game or when we avoid to lose one. In fact, for our brain, both things are similar: it has to achieve a goal.”

My question is … “How do carrots and sticks work in the brain and in business and are they really the same? Very interesting post and thanks Roland for raising the issue of “sameness” here when it applies to effects on our brains. While I do not see carrots and sticks as similar in how they alter either the brain or business over time... I agree they might both get similar short term results. A fascinating concept – and one that raises questions about how we treat ourselves and others in brain based business.

It make me wonder if somebody told customer service departments and cranky managers about this sameness possibility…  maybe that’s why we see more sticks coming out lately… where carrots once seemed to work brilliantly. In spite of what you may read from a person needing to wield a stick … when it comes to the brain … carrots work and sticks stop innovation in its tracks. Why?

The brain leaps to carrots in the form of curiosity… competition … puzzles and problems .. when these are presented in safe but at the same time challenging settings. The “carrot” process raises
serotonin… a hormone that takes business deals and visionary leadership to the next level.

In contrast… the human brain tends to shut down under threats… abuse… unfair competition… or a
cranky manager’s unrealistic demands. The “stick” process raises cortisol … a hormone that reduces a person’s capability to create deals that work or to lead others to the next level.

If “sameness” here means you can get instant profit the same from “carrots and sticks”  such as those obtained from sweat shops or forced labor – then sticks work fine. On the other hand… if “sameness” means you will get long term profitability… retain customers and win the vote from employees who give their best… nothing could be more different from sticks… than carrots.

It's likely a good idea to look closer at how  carrots and sticks really work in the brain and in business  before you hire any more cranky managers. What do you think?  


0 Comments/Trackbacks




submit a trackback

TrackBack URL for this entry:

post a comment

Name, Email Address, and URL are not required fields.





Comment Preview

« A Plan to Bring Blog Brains and Media Brains Together | Main | Regain Passion for Work and Watch Business Grow »

Advertise

sponsored ads



subscribe


Prefer Email?
Subscribe below-

Enter your Email:


Powered by FeedBlitz What's this?

Current News

Support This Blog

Successful and Outstanding Blogger
BlogBurst.com
QAQnA Mug Club
10 Tips for 10 Million Women
My site was nominated for Best Business Blog!

Business and Management Articles
Dig Your Job Badge

business social media

Use these fast growing business social media sites to promote your business, feature your products, spotlight your business leaders, create links, and drive traffic back to your company site, all for free!

BIZZlogos - Add your logo - free link to your site
BIZZphotos - Add photos of your products and people
BIZZprofiles - Submit your profile and build your online visibility
BIZZspotlight - Spotlight your business with free links
BIZZvideos - Videos about businesses, products and business people.
BIZZbites - "Digg" for Business - Submit your articles and posts

know more media network

View Network Map

Network Feed List (OPML)

Know More Media Network
Feed


we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer



BrainBasedBusiness is a member of the Know More Media network of business related blogs.

Here are some current headlines from some of our business publications:

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

LandingTheDeal

CustomersAreAlways

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness

TheInsurancePolicy

MarketingBlurb