I admit it. I'm biased. Anything that Dan Pink writes or speaks on, I usually agree with.

It's no different with this TED talk he gave this summer on the mismatch between what social scientists know about motivation and how businesses apply incentives. He ties his thesis–that mastery, purpose, and autonomy are better motivators than the traditional carrot or stick–back to his previous best seller, A Whole New Mind.

Pink argues that the kind of work that is valued now requires creativity (e.g., lateral thinking) and traditional incentives in business (e.g., money or avoidance of getting booted out) stifle creativity.  It's a natural next step in Pink's exploration of the world of work and careers and an insight that's sorely needed in the business world.

Yes, any seasoned manager understands this intuitively. Give your employees more control of their work, let them feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement, and make it meaningful and the results will be outstanding. But where Pink excels is bringing the facts to what we know intuitively. 

For more great insights on careers from Pink, watch this commencement speech he gave in 2008 to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD):

I'll be interviewing Pink later this fall on behalf of the Northwestern Alumni Association. (We're both alums.) We'll talk about his book, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, a career book targeted to Gen Y, as well as his forthcoming book on intrinsic motivation, Drive. I can't wait.