--- description: "Yes We Can" title: The Best Way to Motivate People image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd62b62659b713b14/698786072dce010da49de4c7/128221681-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=750&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Best Way to Motivate People by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 1, 2015 4:01 AM CUT  Team crew racing at Windermere Cup, Seattle, WA Team crew racing at Windermere Cup, Seattle, WAGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 1, 2015 4:01 AM CUT Emphasize forward progress — not for the sake of the project, but for your team members. Harvard’s Teresa Amabile’s research found that nothing is more motivating than [progress](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-motivates-us-more-than-most-anything-els "undefined") in meaningful work and nothing more taxing than setbacks. Via [The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142219857X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=142219857X "undefined"): --- > “” --- And this can spur innovation: --- > “” --- **Join over 161,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/what-is-the-most-powerful-management-techniqu/ "undefined")**_._** Related posts: [A Navy SEAL Explains 8 Secrets To Grit And Resilience](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/01/grit/ "undefined") [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3765522/best-way-motivate-people/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3765522/best-way-motivate-people/"},"headline":"The Best Way to Motivate People","datePublished":"2015-04-01T04:01:39.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:18:48.853Z","description":"\"Yes We Can\"","url":"https://time.com/3765522/best-way-motivate-people/","keywords":["Psychology"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd62b62659b713b14/698786072dce010da49de4c7/128221681-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd62b62659b713b14/698786072dce010da49de4c7/128221681-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"rowing-team-racing","caption":"rowing-team-racing","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3765522/best-way-motivate-people/","name":"The Best Way to Motivate People"}}]}] ```