Kylie Bell tells Eve Ash that beyond Maslow's traditional Hierarchy of Needs, Edward Deci and Richard Ryan originated Self Determination Theory (SDT). Ryan and Deci say people have three needs (nutriments) that should be met at the same time in order to be fully motivated and more productive. These are relationships, competency and autonomy. Leaders need to ensure that positive relationships are encouraged so that trust builds as people work together. Leaders also need to let people know when they are doing a good job (competence) by setting goals, key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance reviews against which they can be measured. Above all, people's initiative (autonomy) should be welcomed. Leaders need to allow people freedom to explore and make choices, even mistakes. They then should ascertain how levels of engagement with work have risen, through pre-tests and post-tests.
To gain motivated, engaged employees
• Understand physiological needs (Maslow's Hierarchy)
• Recognize Self-Determination Theory (SDT) nutriments: relationships, competency and autonomy
• Understand the extrinsic (motivated by external rewards) and intrinsic (guided by inner purpose) ends of the motivation continuum
• Work out where people sit on the extrinsic-intrinsic motivation continuum
• Ascertain people's internal purpose (intrinsic) and align to external outcomes and rewards (extrinsic)
• Ensure autonomy and constructive feedback
• Measure engagement levels through pre-tests and post-tests
