1. Why do you think there are so many different theories or approaches to understanding motivation? Shouldn’t it be possible to determine which one is best and just use it? Why or why not?
2. Many good leaders are thought of as good motivators. How would you rate Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rudy Guiliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain in terms of their ability to motivate others?
3. What is your own view of what motivates people to work hard and perform well?
4. Do you know of any examples where reward systems are inconsistent with desired behavior? How are personal values related to rewards?
5. What do you find personally satisfying or dissatisfying at work or school? For those things you find dissatisfying, how could you make them more satisfying? What theory of job satisfaction best explains your actions?