"Primed to Perform" by Neel Doshi is a ground-breaking book that digs deep into the science behind employee performance. With a focus on boosting motivation, collaboration, and ultimately, achieving high-performance outcomes, this book provides valuable insights and actionable strategies for leaders and organizations.

Doshi and his co-author Lindsay McGregor reject traditional carrots-and-sticks approaches, emphasizing the importance of understanding and shaping the workplace environment to unlock employees' intrinsic motivation. Through extensive research across a range of industries, they introduce the concept of Total Motivation (ToMo) and the six motives that drive high performance: play, purpose, potential, emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia.

The authors advocate for creating what they call The Primed Workplace, where leaders proactively cultivate conditions that foster employees' motivation and engagement. Drawing from case studies and real-world examples, they highlight the impact of psychological safety, feedback, transparency, and low threat on driving performance.

This book also explores the role of culture in shaping motivation. Doshi and McGregor outline how deliberate cultural practices that align with the six motives can result in a motivated and high-performing workforce. By shifting the focus from individual goals to supporting collective success, organizations can unleash the full potential of their employees.

In addition to guiding leaders on how to apply these principles, "Primed to Perform" offers practical tools and assessment frameworks to measure and improve motivation within teams and organizations. By using these tools, leaders can identify and address motivational gaps, thereby creating a more engaging and productive workplace.

"Primed to Perform" challenges traditional approaches to performance management and provides evidence-based strategies for unlocking the full potential of employees. It is a must-read for leaders, managers, and professionals seeking to create a thriving and high-performing organization.