The Biggest Myth in Leadership: Can You Really Motivate Others?
We continue our discussion on motivation and tackle one of the most persistent myths in leadership: the idea that leaders can directly motivate others. We’ll explore the science and psychology of motivation to understand why leaders can’t truly motivate others but instead must focus on creating environments where people motivate themselves.
We’ll explore the difference between intrinsic motivation—doing something because it’s personally fulfilling—and extrinsic motivation, which relies on rewards like bonuses or recognition. I’ll explain how connecting work to a greater purpose can inspire long-term motivation, engagement, and satisfaction.
I’ll also share practical tips for fostering autonomy, mastery, and a sense of community in the workplace. By creating an environment where people feel empowered and valued, you can build a motivated, creative, and engaged team.
If you’re ready to lead with impact and inspire true engagement, I’ll give you insights and strategies to rethink motivation in your organization. Tune in as we bust the motivation myth and discover what it takes to create a truly motivating environment for your team!
In this episode:
- Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation
- Why intrinsic motivation is critical
- Pros and cons of extrinsic motivation
- Balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- The relationship between autonomy and motivation
- Practical tips for leaders to foster intrinsic motivation
- Key takeaway: the biggest myth in leadership
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Vansteenkiste, M., et al. (2019). Autonomy-supportive leadership: Its role in enhancing motivation. Leadership Quarterly, 30(5), 781-795.
Grant, A. M., & Berry, J. W. (2018). The necessity of intrinsic motivation for creative problem solving. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(9), 945-956.
Mekler, E. D., et al. (2017). The role of rewards in driving behavior for routine tasks. Personnel Psychology, 70(2), 310-340.
Maurer, T. J., et al. (2018). The influence of employee skill development on intrinsic motivation. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 29(3), 299-319.
Niemiec, C. P., et al. (2019). The role of relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation and job satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-11.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Human motivation in the workplace: Fostering autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Human Resource Management, 59(1), 213-229.
Deci, E. L., et al. (2020). Designing performance-based rewards to complement intrinsic motivation. Personnel Review, 49(5), 859-872.