As a business owner, understanding the psychology of motivation is really important for creating an inspiring and productive work culture.
When you understand what motivates employees, you can help to provide them with what they need to feel inspired and fulfilled at work. As a result, you can make them want to do their best- which is a win win situation for you and them!
With this in mind, I’m here to explain the psychology of creating an inspiring work culture which will improve productivity.
I’m sharing this guide because I am a bestselling personal development author and leading Behavioral Change Expert with about 2 million books sold globally.
Plus I founded a groundbreaking video course called The Anxiety Cure. I love sharing insights and strategies to help people and companies to work at their peak potential. So I put together this article with actionable tips to to create an inspiring work culture.
Read on to find out more.
Motivation comes in two main forms: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation comes from within- it’s the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction you get when you’re engaged in something you genuinely enjoy. Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards like money, recognition, praise etc. Finding the right employees for your business in the hiring stage can help with this, if you can find people that are genuinely enthusiastic, keen to learn and work and are intrinsically motivated then the external motivation will be all the more impactful.
One key to unlocking motivation is autonomy, this is the sense of control and choice over your work. When employees have a say in how they approach tasks and can make decisions, it creates a sense of ownership, and taps into intrinsic motivation. This is because people feel more invested in their work and its outcomes.
Work becomes more than just a job when there’s a strong sense of purpose. When employees understand how their contributions align with the bigger picture, they feel a deeper connection to their work. Organisations that communicate a clear and meaningful purpose can inspire employees to put in extra effort to achieve shared goals.
Give staff something to aspire for by setting goals that are clear and attainable. These can act as benchmarks that signal progress and accomplishment, achieving goals gives people a hit of dopamine which is great for motivation. Having clear goals makes it easier to divide bigger jobs into more manageable steps, which makes the road ahead less intimidating and more inspiring.
Recognizing and celebrating workers’ accomplishments and efforts can have a significant effect on motivation. Positive feedback motivates them to keep working hard by validating their efforts. Additionally, giving constructive criticism with the goal of making them better is essential for boosting motivation.
Motivation can be developed in an environment that values cooperation and teamwork. Employees gain a sense of belonging when they get support from their colleagues and managers. This network of support can provide encouragement when things are tough and promotes the exchange of ideas for growth.
The desire to learn and grow is a powerful motivator. Offering opportunities for skill development and growth within the company shows employees that their potential is valued. Think about things like training programs, workshops, mentorship opportunities and more. Industry specific improvements like end-to-end healthcare talent solutions can enhance skills but also fuel motivation by signalling that the organisation invests in its employees’ future.
The “flow” state, which psychologists define as the ideal harmony between a task’s level of difficulty and a person’s skill set is where motivation thrives. When a task is too simple, boredom sets in; when a task is too challenging, stress sets in. Finding the ideal mix promotes employee engagement, attention, and motivation to provide their best work.
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