December 23 2024
By: Traci D. Long
There's not much that demotivates more than promises not kept. No doubt, this is one of the reasons that rewards tend to work better than incentives for motivating discretionary effort. Nobody wants the hint of a bonus or improvement that never manifests.
Leading up to Superbowl XXVIII, Dodge advertised a new car to be debuted, giving few details and shrouding it in mystery. Everyone wondered what it could be, why it is different or special, and looked forward to the unveiling. What a disappointment.
Rather than something deserving of a revelation, they released the Neon, a very plain low-end economy vehicle with no visual or performance appeal. No doubt this would be a good seller due to the low price point, but was it worthy of the hype? I didn't think so, and kept waiting to see it socked on the field for them to bring in the "real" surprise.
Imagine my disappointment. It felt like the joke was on me.
When expectations are set high, the delivery much match or exceed them to maintain trust and enthusiasm. While the Neon was no doubt a good, practical choice for many, it also was a letdown for millions of sports fans.
Traci D Long is the Director of Operations for ProAct Safety. With more than 20 years of experience, she assists with statistical analyses of safety management data, provides project oversight and management for client and internal projects, and assists with the development of quality assurance efforts.
