How can we motivate and engage people?

Motivation is often short-lived. Someone/thing picks you up and carries you for a period of time. It’s almost a contract in the quick, impermanent fix. And our relationship to this person or thing dictates the longevity and impact.

Take customer service in a restaurant. If you want your staff to experience true service and be motivated to deliver it, they need to have the experience of being served. And if you want your staff to know what this means to your customers then put them on a plane to Starbucks, Madison, New York and have them work behind the counter for a day.  They will either leave the business or find the essence of service. And as a business owner, you know you need commitment either way – you know this is the crux of your ability to be successful.

Restaurants aside, love this social experiment in engagement from Thefuntheory•com – excites the imagination, engages on another level, has physicality and the branding is reasonably subtle!  What do you think?