Leadership Wisdom of the Week #17

“Motivation produces.”

– Ryan & Deci, 2000

If you want to achieve something, you need motivation — whether it is climbing a mountain, running a marathon, or writing a weekly leadership blog.

When I started this newsletter, I simply wanted to share thoughts on a topic close to my heart. Most weeks, writing feels natural and energising. But during particularly busy periods, I have caught myself questioning whether publishing every week is really sustainable. That small observation made me realise how motivation evolves over time.

Most of the time, my writing is driven by intrinsic motivation — the genuine enjoyment of putting words on paper. During more demanding weeks, however, enjoyment alone is not always enough. Commitment, discipline, and the expectations I set for myself start to play a bigger role.

For leaders, understanding what drives people at different times really matters. Ryan and Deci describe three key elements behind motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Autonomy means having the freedom to make meaningful decisions about one’s work. The clearer leaders are about expectations and goals, the more freedom people have to decide how to achieve them. At its best, autonomy increases not only motivation, but also innovation and renewal across an organisation.

Competence refers to the need to feel capable while continuing to grow. Leaders support this by setting goals that are challenging but achievable — and by recognising progress and giving feedback along the way.

Relatedness is the feeling of belonging to something larger than oneself. People are more motivated when they feel connected to colleagues and understand the impact of their work on other people.

People rarely give their best because they are told to. They do it because the work feels meaningful, achievable, and connected to others. Perhaps that is what keeps a weekly leadership blog going too: meaning, progress, and connection — especially when inspiration alone is not enough.

Ryan, Richard M. & Deci, Edward L. (2000). Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being. American Psychologist, Association, Vol. 55, No. 1, 68-78.