Do you feel you get automomy, competence and

Do you feel you get automomy, competence and relatedness at work or in the products, services you use?

I’m sure some of you can relate (I know I can) to a boss that was a micro manager - this takes away autonomy for example, which lowers motivation to do the work or even to stay at work.

Let’s start by defining what motivation is:

Motivation is something that moves you and me (us) into action

Researchers have been studying and implementing a theory called self determination and looking at motivation.

What is self determination theory?

Self Determination Theory is a broad theory of human motivation.

It states that we all have 3 basic needs (there may be a 4th or 5th, but it has not been included yet in the theory)

These needs which I mentioned in the title are:

1.

Autonomy

That you fee that you are in control and that you can make choices, rather than being forced.

2.

Competence

That you feel affective and capable - that you feel you can succeed in a task and experience growth.

3.Relatedness -That you feel connected with and belonging in a setting or a group (I matter in a group)

It also mentions motivation types, which can be broken down into:

-Intrinsic motivation (doing things out of interest and enjoyment

Internalizing (doing things out of value - you understand the worth of the action)

-Extrinsic motivation - (not enjoyable, but there is a separate goal or outcome) Think a monetary reward.

Mostly we should aim for intrinsic motivation.

Things that undermine intrinsic motivation:

-Pressure -Micro managing -Tasks that are too easy or too hard -Cold or Distance

Things that Facilitate Intinsic Motivation

-Absence of Pressure -Choice -Optimal Challenge -Warmth

How does this relate to products and services or work?

Autonomy: - Flexible work -Giving users control over what they can choose in your product/service (experience type, colors, content)

Competence: -Tips -Small and bit size tutorials

Relatedness: -Relevant content -Timely messaging -Community

If you want to learn more about motivation and self determination theory here are a few books - let me know which ones I’m missing:

1. Addicted to games (thanks for the recommendation Amy Bucher ) by Scott Rigby and Richard M Ryan

2. Self Determination Theory by Deci and Ryan

3. Get it Done - by Ayelet Fishbach

#behavioralscience #servicedesign #productinnovation #digitaltransformation #changemanagement

Self Determination Theory is a broad theory of human motivation.