The Truth About Motivation: Why Perks Don’t Matter and Meaning Does

Ping-pong tables, free snacks, and Friday happy hours make for fun Instagram posts—but do they really motivate your team? Patty McCord’s 'Powerful' says no. At Netflix, the real drivers of engagement are meaningful work, fair pay, and strong teams.



Netflix eliminated traditional bonuses and paid people what they were truly worth to the company. Compensation was transparent and based on current and future value, not past tenure. Employees knew exactly how their pay was determined, and conversations about compensation were open and honest.

But money isn’t everything. The most motivated employees are those who see the impact of their work, who are surrounded by talented colleagues, and who believe in the company’s mission. Netflix’s culture of freedom and responsibility gives people the autonomy to do their best work—and the accountability to deliver results.

If you want to build a truly motivated team, focus less on perks and more on purpose. Make sure your compensation is fair, your work is meaningful, and your teams are built for excellence.

Real motivation comes from inside—from the pride of doing great work, with great people, for a great cause.