Louis CarterFounder and Chief Executive Officer, Best Practice Institute · Founder and CEO, Best Practice Institute - Most Loved Workplace® | Organizational Psychologist | Creator of AI Workplace Intelligence and Employer Branding Platform

Performance Management and Happiness in the Workplace (Part 3 of 7)

22 Nov 2017 · 2 min

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1:38

In this short talk, the speaker shares a personal story from childhood and school about being forced to play the cowbell instead of drums, using the experience as a vivid metaphor for how managers can marginalize employees by assigning them low‑impact, token tasks. He argues that relegating staff to the "cowbell" stifles motivation and growth. The core message is a call to create a workplace culture built on respect, ethics, integrity, appreciation, and collaboration, where every employee is given meaningful opportunities to contribute. The speaker asserts that such a culture not only makes the workplace enjoyable but also drives better performance and organizational outcomes.

Chapters

When I was a kid, I used to hate being told that I couldn't do something by my teachers. And one of the things I always hated being told was I couldn't play the drums. And then later on I got older and I couldn't play the drums for Mr. Morrow's class because he told me, You're going to play the cowbell instead. And I said, that's not going to happen. I love drumming and I'm going to learn drumming. I finally mustered up enough courage to ask my parents, hey guys, get me a teacher to teach me drums because I love it so much. Well, they got me a teacher and I learned how to drum. I became part of an awesome music community that I loved and had people who respected me and I could create cool new music with them and I appreciated working with them. And we had a common ethics around what we did. I was always relegated to the cowbell by Mr. Morrow. He told me to go play the cowbell, but I went home and I asked to become part of a larger community. What I'm asking you, everybody, to do is don't relegate your employees to the cowbell. Give them the opportunity. Create a culture of respect, of ethics and integrity, of appreciation, a positive future, a wonderful collaborative culture that make it impossible for anyone not to love the workplace. And I guarantee you, you'll reap the benefits.