Are You Fulfilling The Intrinsic Motivators For Your People?

In this video, David discusses four fundamental Intrinsic Motivators that are essential for driving human behaviour: Purpose, Autonomy, Mastery, and Relatedness. Whether you’re seeking to fulfil these motivators for yourself or help your team achieve them, understanding these key drivers is vital for both individual and team success.

Purpose: The Driving Force Behind Motivation

Purpose is a powerful Intrinsic Motivator. To create a deeply motivating work environment, leaders must help their team members understand:

• The purpose of the organisation,
• The team’s purpose, and
• Individual purpose.

A clear purpose gives people meaning in their work, helping them answer the question, “Why do I go to work?” It creates a sense of fulfilment that inspires people to perform their best. The more articulated and aligned the purpose, the more motivating it is.

Autonomy: The Freedom to Choose

Autonomy is about having the freedom to make decisions. When you have autonomy, you’re empowered to choose how to fulfil your purpose. Leaders must ask:

• Do your team members have control over their work tasks?
• Are they trusted to decide how, when, and where they work?

The more autonomy you give your team in their roles, the more likely they will feel motivated to achieve their goals. Clarity on purpose combined with autonomy creates an empowered, high-performing team.

Mastery: The Pursuit of Excellence

Mastery is a crucial Intrinsic Motivator that encourages continuous improvement. To enhance your team’s performance, focus on:

• Developing key skills for success,
• Cultivating behaviours that drive results, and
• Fostering a Growth Mindset—where feedback and learning are encouraged.

Regular feedback and skill development are critical in helping both leaders and team members grow and improve, which directly impacts overall team performance.

Relatedness: The Power of Connection

Relatedness is about connection and collaboration. As humans, we perform better when we feel connected to others. To foster relatedness:

• Encourage strong interpersonal connections between team members,
• Create a culture where collaboration thrives, and
• Ensure that everyone feels they are part of a supportive community.

When people feel they belong and can collaborate, they are more engaged and motivated to achieve shared goals.

By focusing on Intrinsic Motivators like purpose, autonomy, mastery, and relatedness, you can drive deeper motivation and improve performance across your team.

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Stay Curious!

With best regards,

David Klaasen

Talent4Performance help business leaders clarify complexity. We inspire people and drive continuous performance improvement, so they can convert thinking into action and results.

©David Klaasen – 2025