#4: We looked at 30k+ data points on motivation from around the globe. Here’s what we found.

#1: Covid-19 had a major impact on motivation—and on some motivators more than others.

Of the?11 core motivators, four saw dramatic changes over the past four years that are almost certainly directly attributable to the pandemic:?Security,?Autonomy,?Innovation, and?Progress.?

Security in this context is defined as a need for predictability, stability and clear frameworks. Unsurprisingly, the average scores for Security experienced an uptick between 2019 and 2022—likely caused by the instability and constant sense of uncertainty that marked the pandemic years, creating higher needs for security and stability.?

Autonomy is another motivator that saw a marked change during the pandemic, falling below ‘Nice-to-have’ levels and into ‘Neutral’ territory. This means that people’s desire for Autonomy decreased, presumably due to this need being met (and perhaps even exceeded) as a result of the rise of remote working.?

#2: Other macro, high-impact events have an effect on motivation too.

If the above changes in the global data set are anything to go by, we can expect to see further fluctuations in the different motivators in the next few years as a result of factors such as recession, political instability, and other global events. There has already been a steady increase in?Financial Needs?from 2020 through 2022, possibly as a result of increasing financial pressures due to economic uncertainty and rising inflation in many regions across the world.?

What this tells us is that individual motivational needs can and will change. Not only because of personal circumstances, but also because of sweeping changes caused by world events. By anticipating these patterns, leaders of organizations can muster the tools and protocols necessary to weather an oncoming storm, whatever that may be.??

#3: The need for Innovation and Progress falls during high-stress events

One of the more interesting patterns that emerged through the data set was the change in Progress and Innovation. Both motivators showed a dramatic decline between 2018 and 2022, which reflects the shift from promotion focus to prevention focus that tends to occur during times of crisis, As Professor Rolf van Dick, Chair of Social Psychology at Goethe University Frankfurt, explains, promotion focus is common when the economy is doing well, meaning people actively seek out new opportunities and tend to view obstacles more as positive challenges than as problems. In times of crisis, however, most people switch to a prevention-focused mindset, where they take less risks and choose stability and security over expansion and ambition.

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The above insights come from the data presented in our newly released ‘The State of Motivation Report 2023’, where we take a deep dive into global motivational trends, and how they have evolved over the past five years. You can?download the report?for free here.

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Curious about what we do and how we can help your organization??Reach out to us?to schedule a quick introductory chat.?