When you're self-motivated, it's easier to thrive. If you've read Daniel Pink's book Drive or the book Primed to Perform, you know that autonomy, mastery, and purpose* are the key elements of motivation. Taking them one by one...
- Autonomy is being in charge of your work.
- Mastery or competence is learning and developing through feedback.
- Purpose is knowing your "why".
Below are concrete recommendations to increase your autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
Autonomy - Shape your work life.
- Find or grow a workplace that trusts employees to shape their working conditions. Research shows that?the Results-Only Work Environment,?with its focus on results rather than set schedules and locations,?decreases work-family conflict and staff turnover, improves?health, and avoids the?gender?and?morning?biases that occur with flextime.
- Let people know how you work best by creating a?user manual?for yourself and filling out the?“I am great worksheet” by Alexandra Franzen.
- Subscribe to?Daniel Pink’s?newsletter and Seth Godin's daily blog for ongoing encouragement to take charge of your work life.
Mastery - Seek challenge.
Purpose - Know why your work matters.?
- Try author Daniel Pink’s exercise?“Whose Purpose Is It Anyway?”?in which everyone answers the question, “What is the purpose of this organization?”
- Read?this article?by Primed to Perform co-authors Lindsay McGregor and Neel Doshi. Each week ask yourself these three questions: What did I learn this week? What impact did I have this week? and What do I want to learn next week?
- Watch this 4-minute video?in which Professor Jennifer Aaker explains how purpose relates to health and satisfaction at work and this powerful video in which Elizabeth Gilbert distinguishes between hobbies, jobs, career and vocation.
I'd love to hear what helps you thrive at work.
* I remember autonomy, mastery and purpose by the mnemonic device AMP.
Connection Catalyst ?? || Igniting Change Through Facilitation & Strategy || Program Management Pro || Ambassador of Good Ideas
3 年Manisha, what a pleasure it was to get to know you better today as a fellow Lean In. When we were talking about setting people up to thrive at work, I thought about this article I wrote. I hope you find it useful.
Connection Catalyst ?? || Igniting Change Through Facilitation & Strategy || Program Management Pro || Ambassador of Good Ideas
3 年If you're interested in learning more about Results-Only Work Environment, check out this recent New Yorker article by Cal Newport: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/how-to-achieve-sustainable-remote-work
Greater MN Senior Freshman Admissions Counselor || Wellbeing advocate || Food Lover || Registered Yoga Teacher || Nutrition BS (She/Her/Hers)
3 年I have found that in my work life I have had to find all of these to encourage a better work place for all. For myself, I have especially used my own user manuals and trying to seek out companys that are not results only work places.? I also like to continue to challange the work place setting by asking my managers why things are certain ways and not always taking no as the answer and explaining why.?
Seasoned Leader - F and A | Consulting | HR Transformation | Start up Lead & Investor
3 年Great I have just filled the Form, lets connect.
Road Weather Technology Program Coordinator at Minnesota Department of Transportation
3 年Love this! I recently embraced my strengths which really helped in my thriving at work.