It’s often refreshing to read the Harvard Business Review. They seem to understand how to communicate incisive business ideas in a very engaging way. It was particularly refreshing to see Teresa Amabile’s contribution to Breakthrough Ideas for 2010 (January-February 2010).
The number one motivator (by a long way) for motivating people is Progress. (ie. the feeling of making progress in one’s work). That’s based on the Amabile/Kramer multi-year study of hundreds knowledge workers. I’m calling it Achievement. I think we’re on the same page.
What I’m arguing is that the best investment an organisation can make is in supporting it’s people to achieve something that aligns with the strategic direction of the organisation. There are no silver bullets, only fundamental questions.
Everyone should ask themselves:
- Given the current situation, what specific achievement should I be focused on? What specifically constitutes progress?
- How would this be meaningful to me?
- How do I enroll the people I need to support this specific achievement/progress?
- How do I create a sense of momentum that motivates myself and the team?
- What does reality look like? Am I making progress?
Worth thinking about!
Because you know. The greatest opportunities for leadership development, learning, motivation, change, engagement, value, etc – lie in front of us in the work that we do. It is just a matter of how we think about it.
ps I’m back after a summer recess! You’ll be hearing more from me.