A parent trying to potty train their toddler. They promise the child a lollipop for using the potty but accidentally hand over the candy every time the kid screams “poop!” from the living room, nowhere near the bathroom. What happens next? You guessed it—now there’s a tiny dictator yelling “poop” in public places, expecting sweet treats. This absurdity, dear reader, is a classic example of rewarding a while hoping for b, a phenomenon as common as it is hilariously frustrating.
The concept, introduced by management expert steven kerr in his iconic essay, reveals a simple truth: humans are often terrible at aligning incentives with desired outcomes. It’s like training a cat to do tricks but rewarding it with tuna every time it scratches the couch. The cat doesn’t learn tricks; the couch learns pain. In workplaces, schools, and relationships, we’re no better—making it a rich playground for comedy, confusion, and the occasional existential crisis.
Misaligned Incentives The Comedy Of Errors
Misaligned incentives are everywhere, wreaking havoc and, sometimes, bringing unintended hilarity. Take workplaces, for instance. Imagine a company that claims to value teamwork but rewards employees based on individual sales numbers. Suddenly, the office morphs into a survival-of-the-fittest jungle, complete with side-eye glances, passive-aggressive emails, and the occasional stapler sabotage. Bob from accounting isn’t your colleague anymore—he’s your mortal enemy.
Then there’s the manager who insists on “innovation” while punishing every failed experiment. This creates a workplace culture where employees innovate ways to stay under the radar rather than break new ground. “Hey, what if we replace the printer ink with unicorn blood?” no way—that suggestion could get you fired! Better to propose something safe like color-coded spreadsheets. Yes, janet, more spreadsheets. That’ll surely get us to mars.
Schools Where Grades Reign Supreme
Nowhere is this folly more evident than in the education system. Schools claim to nurture creativity and critical thinking but grade students solely on their ability to memorize the pythagorean theorem. Little timmy might have designed a prototype for a mars rover, but his gpa is tanked because he forgot which triangle has a hypotenuse. Creativity is wonderful, they say, as long as it’s neatly formatted in times new roman and submitted before midnight.
Teachers sometimes reward attendance over actual learning. Want an “a”? Show up, sit quietly, and look like you’re paying attention. It doesn’t matter if you’re daydreaming about becoming the next taylor swift or plotting your escape to a tropical island. Sit still, collect gold stars, and enjoy the cognitive dissonance.
Relationships The Romantic
In relationships, this phenomenon can turn a budding romance into a slapstick comedy. Picture a partner who claims to want honesty but rewards flattery instead. When you say, “you look great in that outfit,” they beam with delight. But when you honestly mention, “that lasagna tasted like regret,” you’re banished to the couch. Guess which behavior gets repeated? The lasagna will stay terrible forever, and so will your honest feedback.
Parents are no better. They might hope their kids grow up to be independent and self-sufficient but reward compliance and obedience. Suddenly, their grown child can’t decide what to eat without calling home for advice. “Mom, should i get the pepperoni pizza or the cheese one?” congratulations, you’ve raised an adult who is paralyzed by pepperoni.
The Fix Stop Confusing A And B
Fixing this isn’t rocket science—it’s more like fixing a leaky faucet. The trick is to reward the behavior you actually want, not just the easiest thing to measure. If you want innovation, celebrate creative failures as well as successes. If you want honesty, brace yourself for unfiltered opinions about your cooking.
Humans are creatures of habit, and we’re drawn to short-term rewards like moths to a flame. But when those rewards contradict our long-term goals, chaos ensues. It’s time to take a good, hard look at the lollipops we’re handing out and make sure they align with the “potty” behavior we’re aiming for—literally and metaphorically.
Laughing Through The Madness
Rewarding a while hoping for b is as human as it is absurd. It’s a mix of good intentions, bad execution, and the occasional laugh-out-loud moment. Whether it’s in the office, the classroom, or at home, the folly of misaligned incentives serves as a reminder that even our best-laid plans can go hilariously awry.
So, next time you catch yourself handing out candy for the wrong kind of “poop,” take a step back and rethink your strategy. The world will be a better place—or at least a slightly less ridiculous one. And if all else fails, remember: laughter is the best reward, even if it doesn’t align with your goals.