The motivation for change

Gunnar R. Fischer
Sep 4, 2018 · 2 min read

If change is hard, what gives me the energy to do it nevertheless? What keeps me motivated?

Some years ago, I identified three motives that are driving me and by whom I measure whether I am doing the right thing:

  • making a difference
  • moving something in the hearts of the people
  • being good enough for something

It is only the combination of all three that does the trick. That resonates well with a video I watched in the context of a Scrum training:

RSA ANIMATE: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

It tells us three driving forces:

  • Autonomy
  • Mastery
  • Purpose

Change means entering unknown territory — and most often, learning something new. That contradicts mastery, and because as a learner, I am dependent on other people (teaching, advice, patience), my level of autonomy will also decrease drastically. The only motive that can really guide me then is purpose.

When I try to picture of the opposite — a highly independent, very capable person that lacks a true meaning — I immediately think of heroes in all kinds of stories: The protagonist has (or gets) superpowers and rises above the ordinary human needs. But without a proper use for these powers, where is the sense even in a more-than-average life? This is what makes superheroes give up part of their tremendous autonomy to form an association with binding rules.

Now, asks Captain Obvious, if purpose is such a deeply rooted driver of human action, might the best choice to motivate people for change not consist in just not killing their natural strive for meaning? However, a lot of these demotivators are still common at the modern workplace: robbing or hiding the context of the daily work (“Why am i doing this? It does not make any difference.”), blaming or belittling people for trying something out, and the worst of all, micromanaging — ideal for killing autonomy and mastery at the same time!

Micromanagement is a good indicator for a lack of trust. Change therefore needs trust — or at least a leap of faith to begin with.

Gunnar R. Fischer

Written by

Contact me in English, German, Esperanto…

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade