Emotional Insights for Leaders:
Daniel Pink’s 3 Drivers of Motivation at Work

In this installment of the Emotional Insights for Leaders, we turn our spotlight onto Motivation. Read on for practical tips and activities to set a context in which Motivation can flourish  – for you and your team.

By Svetlana Suvorova – LinkedIn

Our mantra remains the same: emotions are not just welcome at work; they are essential. As leaders, recognizing and understanding our emotional landscape fuels our self-awareness and fosters empathy, building resilient teams that drive performance.

Today, we’re talking about Motivation.

The world’s largest study on emotional intelligence, the State of The Heart 2023 Report published by SixSeconds, landed in my inbox earlier this month. Unfortunately, the narrative was not an unexpected one: Global EQ has declined for another year, marking a 3-year consecutive plunge. The data shows that all 8 competencies measured by SixSeconds Emotional Assessment have declined, with 3 in particular experiencing the largest percentage decrease. These 3 competencies are all related to our motivation.

The narrative is clear: we’ve lost our drive to move forward. More people feel hopeless, disengaged, and on the brink of burnout. 

Emotion Spotlight – MOTIVATION

“Logic can convince but only emotion can motivate.” – Jonathan Alter

Motivation is a feeling that can come and go, and understanding what fuels it is essential. I appreciate two approaches to this: one rooted in values and the other breaking down our experience of motivation to a more detailed level.

This week, let’s explore the value approach. Like all emotions, motivation speaks to our values, acting as a check-in for alignment. As we’ll explore with Dan Pink’s theory, motivation particularly relates to our values of autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

Experiencing a dip in motivation? It’s useful to reflect: are we feeling restricted (autonomy), stagnant (mastery), or disconnected from what matters (purpose)? Pinpointing these triggers can assist in crafting strategies to boost motivation and propel actions. 

Understanding MOTIVATION

Definition: An internal energy source, sparking our enthusiasm, focus, and perseverance to propel us forward.

Message: “Move forward with excitement and zest!“

Understanding MOTIVATION through Daniel Pink’s Theory

Daniel Pink, in his book “Drive,” unfolds a theory about what truly motivates us, especially in the work context. He identifies three key elements that fuel our motivation: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose.

• Autonomy is about feeling a sense of control over our work and life.
• Mastery involves the pursuit of improvement and continuous learning.
• Purpose connects us to a cause or mission larger than ourselves.

MOTIVATION in Leadership

As a leader, your role involves keenly observing your team and their motivation levels. If you notice team members not making decisions or trying new ideas, they might need more freedom. If they stop growing their skills, they might need help and encouragement to learn. And if they just don’t seem to care, they might need to be reminded why their work is important.

Keep in mind, motivation can come and go and won’t always be there. But, knowing what fuels it can help you use its energy when it’s really needed.

Let your team make choices, help them grow, and always show them how their work makes a difference.

Communication tips:

Stop Micro-Managing: Empower your team by granting them autonomy. Instead of dictating every step, try saying, “Here’s the outcome that we are looking for. I trust your expertise to tackle this project however you see fit. I’m here if you need support or want to bounce around ideas.“

Support Career Development: Assist your team members in identifying and pursuing growth opportunities. You might say, “I’ve noticed your interest in [specific skill/area]. What if we explore some courses or projects that could help you grow in that direction?“

Understand and Align Drives: Show interest in what motivates each individual and find ways to align it with the organizational goals. Consider stating, “I’d like to hear your feedback on your experience with recent projects to understand what fuels your drive. Where did you find moments of ‘flow’? And what was rather challenging for you to navigate?“

Incorporating these communication strategies can help create a positive and motivational atmosphere within your team, promoting both individual and collective growth and success.

🌟 Weekly Exercise:

Take a moment to think about your own motivation. Recall a time when you were super motivated and a time when it was nowhere to be found. What sparked those feelings? Were aspects like autonomy, mastery, and purpose there or missing? Use these reflections to get to know your own patterns through your values and create plans to manage its ups and downs.

Let’s wrap up: motivation can go up and down, but we can learn to manage it with the right actions and thoughts. Whether you’re leading a team or chasing your own goals, understanding motivation can help keep up the hard work, bring new ideas, and reach success.

This post originally appeared as part of The EQ Edge newsletter on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.

Svetlana Suvorova, a Certified EQ Coach, merges her corporate leadership experience with a passion for emotional intelligence, empowering leaders to leverage their emotions for success. Living in five countries has ignited her love for people and languages. Fluent in the language of emotions, she provides fresh insights into understanding and channeling them effectively. She’s leading the charge to redefine emotions in the workplace, offering bespoke coaching, in-depth training, and impactful keynotes. Stay in tune with her vision through her weekly newsletter, The EQ Edge.