In our recent Hello Frances Podcast series, we discussed the different types of intrinsic motivation. Inspired by Dan Pink’s book Drive, we talk about the inherent motivators of autonomy, mastery, and purpose. 

Leaders need to know what motivates their employees. Do they want to have control over their lives and work? Are they constantly trying to enhance their skill set? Do they desire a greater purpose? It’s quite possibly a mix of more than one, but no matter the motivator it’s vital to know what drives your employees to feel inspired to do their best work. 

While intrinsic motivation is vital, companies cannot discount the importance of extrinsic motivators as well. 

Extrinsic motivators are those that come from outside influences. These include awards, compensation, workplace benefits, and more. For a thriving workplace, businesses need to prioritize both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators to have satisfied employees. 

Businesses that only focus on extrinsic motivators will often find that these can lose effectiveness and lead to burnout. Only fixating on intrinsic motivators leads employees to feel undervalued. Discovering a balance of both among all employees is key to a healthy workplace. 

We’ve talked about discovering the Enneagram types of your employees and learning more about their strengths, weaknesses, and communication styles, but learning what motivates individuals is just as important. It helps tailor your leadership style and approach for different personality types, generating a positive work environment. Those that are deliberate in their approach with motivators tend to see happier employees in the workplace.   

Learning motivations inspires loyalty and trust and creates a better relationship all around. We encourage you to uncover your employees’ motivations to set your team up for a bright future!