On New Year’s Day, I had the opportunity to listen in to a teleconference given by Daniel Pink on what he’ll be focusing on in 2010. Ever since I encountered his TED talk, I’ve been a fan of Daniel Pink and I have been waiting to read his new book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Dan makes the case that our old understanding of how to motivate followers is not sufficient in today’s world. More accurately, our understanding is sufficient, but most leaders are not applying what we understand properly.

The book is divided into three parts. Part One builds a case first against the commonly used “Carrot and Stick” mindset of motivation. Pink cites various scientific studies and examples of how providing incentives is not only ineffective, it some instances it can even reduce a followers enjoyment of the task they’re being incentivized to complete. Part Two outlines the three elements of motivation, not according to common sense or trial and error, but according to what the science says. Part Three provides a “Toolkit” for those seeking to implement this new understanding of motivation.

Very few business books actually speak to the science of organizational or leadership theories. Those few that do are rarely interesting to a mass audience. Drive is different. In Drive, Pink not only presents the solid science of organizational motivation but does so in a way that captures the readers attention and answers the question, “What do I do next?” Although it was released in late December, Drive will be the must read for 2010.