Motivation

We all know that XXI century employees can't and shouldn't be managed in the old way. We want them to be independent, active, self-responsible and creative. We expect management to unleash the power of employees by giving them the freedom and targets which motivate them to give their best in work. What I'm not sure whether all employees (and all cultures) are ready to be motivated. I often face the following problem when trying to motivate people. I don't know much about theory, but every framework brings the same results.  Let see an example of motivation factors and the results of using them:

• Meaningfulness

For many people meaningful is only which brings them immediate benefit. If the results are long term, not directly for them (but e.g. for a company in general) or there are difficulties they doesn't found it meaningful. They are open to say what's wrong but carefully avoid making proposals.

• Choice

Choice means that you don't have to do what you don’t like. It also means that your boss can't make decisions about your work; his only job is to protect you and enable you the freedom you deserve.  It also means that you don't have to come up with solutions for problems; it's your boss’s job. You only have to explains why is wrong what your boss is proposing, and you can complain about the decisions he made.

• Competence 

You are very competent, so your boss shouldn't interfere with your work. He only has to work out the details.

• Progress

Many people seem to be enjoying the delay their work - some of them spend more time (theirs and others) explaining why something shouldn’t or couldn’t be done which would be needed to the work itself. It really demotivates me. 

Naturally there are positive examples. Anyway I have the feeling that not everybody is ripe for intrinsic motivation.