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