3 Ways to Motivate

Freequently, we use two ways to motivate those around us

1. Reward & praise when they do something noteworthy
2. Punishment or reprimand when they do something that we don't want repeated

There is a third and more sustainable way to inspire people to take the desired action. It is to create a sense of belonging in them. The need to belong is a great motivator for us as a species, be it at school, in offices, or even families.

How do we get people to develop a sense of belonging? 3 things are essential to inculcate this feeling

1. Belief in a larger shared goal that drives all action/ decisions; e.g. for a financial services firm it could be about enabling people prepare for retirement
2. Autonomy to do what's needed - which means an opportunity to make mistakes, get coached and learn rather than be expected to get things perfect everytime and all the time
3. A sense of meaningful contribution & achievement - people need to be given tools to ensure their work contributes to the larger goal, and a window to clearly see this connection