Leader's Beacon | The Leadership Experts

How leaders can impact employee’s motivation using the 4-Drive Theory

The 4-Drive Theory of Employee Motivation states that there are four main drives that motivate employees, these are the drives to: Acquire & Achieve, to Bond & Belong, to be Challenged & Comprehend, and to Define & Defend. Continue Reading

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I have been touting the 4-Drive Model of Employee Motivation since I first read the 2008 Harvard Business Review article “Employee Motivation: A Powerful New Model” by  Nohria, , Groysberg, and Lee.  You could say I’ve been a very BIG advocate for this model!  It is a powerful theory on human motivation in general, and in particular, employee motivation.  First presented in the 2002 book, “Driven: How Human Nature Shapes Our Choices” by Lawrence and Nohria, the model outlines four main drives of motivation. Continue Reading

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A few months ago, we had the wonderful pleasure of spending a day interviewing 11 people at Oak Ridge Hotel & Conference Center to try to uncover their secret – because they have gotten the formula right on employee motivation. Continue Reading

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We all have a drive to bond.  The desire to form meaningful, positive relationships with those around us.  Research shows that this drive is one of the strongest motivators that we have as humans (see Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Lawrence and Nohria, 2002).  Think of the impact that this strong human drive could have on business performance if harnessed?  Think of the extra effort that you exert for your friends when they are in need – now apply that extra effort to a business. Continue Reading

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Employee motivation, in my view, is key to creating long term successful companies.  While there are no magic bullets out there, here are 9 tips that we’ve gathered over the years that can help any manager improve the motivation of the people working for him or her. Continue Reading

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The Four Drive Model of Employee Motivation was presented by Lawrence and Nohria in 2002. The model is a holistic way of looking at employee motivation beyond the typical “pay” model that is prevalent in the corporate world today. I will not go into detail regarding the model here, but just give  an overview and how this model presents a new way of thinking for organizational leaders. Continue Reading

Other articles you might like:

• 4 ways great leaders use the 4-Drive Model to impact employee’s motivation
• The Drive To Bond and How We Screw It Up
• Rethinking the 4-Drive Model of Employee Motivation
• Employee Motivation – 9 Simple Tips for Managers
• Why Giving Thanks Matters