What Motivates You at Work?
Generally speaking, outside of volunteer opportunities and passion projects, people don’t work for free. But once money is off the table, what actually motivates us to do a good job?
Yes, salary remains a top reason people show up to work—but studies have consistently shown that it's not what drives people to go above and beyond. Once basic pay requirements are met, other motivational factors take over. If money gets people in the door, empowerment, competence, and connection are what make them shine.
Motivation Through Pleasure: The Power of Empowerment
Empowering people to shape the flow of their day is a powerful motivator. It’s the opposite of micromanagement. Empowered employees have some say over what they work on, how they do it, and—when possible—where it gets done. That level of trust not only fuels motivation but also increases engagement, a key driver of company success.
The ADP Global Study of Engagement found that virtual workers who are part of a team are significantly more engaged than their office-bound counterparts (29% vs. 18%).
Empowerment also means being included in decision-making. According to the APA’s 2021 Work and Well-Being Survey, nearly half of employees report feeling stressed because they aren’t included in decisions that affect their work.
People are hired because of their skills and experience. If managers spend most of their time telling people what to do instead of coaching, listening, and asking thoughtful questions, they risk undermining the motivation that empowerment creates.
Motivation Through Passion: Competence, Recognized and Rewarded
People want to grow. They want to feel they’re making progress toward something meaningful. In the workplace, this boils down to competence—not as a static skill, but as a continual path of development.
Appreciation and recognition are at the heart of motivating competence. This can take many forms:
- Subtle recognition, such as assigning tasks aligned with personal interests.
- Public praise, which works well for extroverts.
- Celebrating team wins, which boosts morale for those inspired by collective success.
The same ADP study found that teams where employees agree with the statement “I have the chance to use my strengths every day at work” are the most engaged.
That said, be careful with so-called "constructive" criticism. Unless it’s from someone trusted, it may feel more like discouragement than support. Instead, frame feedback as a path toward goals, delivered with empathy and positivity. When employee and company goals are aligned, both sides win.
Finally, competence should lead to growth opportunities. A lack of career progression is one of the top three causes of stress at work—alongside low salaries and long hours. With 71% of people reporting burnout, according to the APA survey, companies can’t afford to ignore this red flag.
Motivation Through Purpose: The Value of Human Connection
Most people are intrinsically motivated to connect with and help others. When employees feel truly connected—to individuals, teams, and the broader mission—their work gains deeper meaning.
Strong connections fuel collaboration, innovation, and loyalty. People are far more likely to perform at a high level when they understand how their work impacts others.
According to Cigna’s 2020 Loneliness and the Workplace report, workers with poor coworker relationships feel lonelier—and lonely workers are twice as likely to consider quitting. Even worse, 10% of lonely employees say their work suffers in quality.
But there’s good news: the majority of American workers report being satisfied with their workplace relationships, and over half say they have a “best friend” at work—a key driver of engagement.
If you want to feel like your work matters, figure out who it matters to.
Finding Motivation Through Pleasure, Passion, and Purpose
There are many theories around workplace motivation. What inspires you may not be what drives the person next to you—but empowerment, competence, and connection are three powerful lenses to explore.
Ask yourself: What motivates me at work beyond a paycheck?
If you’re unsure, working with a personal coach might help you uncover the answers.
In the end, when companies create a culture that nurtures empowerment, recognizes competence, and builds connection, people don’t just work harder—they work with more pleasure, passion, and purpose.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organisational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognising that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organisation's specific challenges, objectives, and organisational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customised and adaptable. We recognise that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organisation. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organisational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organisation.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organisation. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organisations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, travelling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organisations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organisational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customising our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organisation.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximising the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.
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