We all know that higher efficiency is better, right? Well, today’s guest, Roger Martin, says this focus on efficiency is actually counterproductive to your mission, values, and goals. Listen in and learn the dangers of the efficiency mindset and get tips to develop a happier, more productive positive-sum mindset.
Listen to the Episode Here!
Links
Roger’s Website
Book(Amazon): When More is Not Better
Podcast: Ep 42: Living Values, Building People, Inspiring Communities with Dr. Jeff Thompson
Timestamps
(02:50) Why an efficiency-mindset is dangerous
(13:22) The efficiency-mindset in nonprofits
(16:00) Setting healthy goals
(23:00) Dangers of incentive-tied compensation & evaluations
(30:00) The secret to being happy
The notion that more efficiency is better is instilled in us.
We have become so obsessed with efficiency, we’ve pushed past optimality.
Efficiency both looks and feels good. But it has deep consequences.
Efficiency pushes economic growth to the top and puts a damper on the middle class.
We have developed a zero-sum game approach instead of a positive-sum approach.
You have to think about the system as a whole, and that includes thinking about the lives of your employees.
Foundations have to be careful about the incentive structure you set up because you could cause your grantees to make decisions that actually damage those they are serving.
You have to think about what you
Sometimes when you try to do something explicitly, you don’t accomplish it/you end up doing less of it.