--- description: Employees, spouses, kids — what does it take to get people motivated so you don’t have to nag them? Motivation is powerful. It predicts success... title: How to Motivate People: 4 Steps Backed by Science image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [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 # How to Motivate People: 4 Steps Backed by Science by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 8, 2014 4:20 PM CUT by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 8, 2014 4:20 PM CUT Employees, spouses, kids — what does it take to get people motivated so you don’t have to nag them? [Motivation](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/05/what-really-motivates-us/ "undefined") is powerful. **It predicts success better than intelligence, ability, or salary.** Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10GG/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- I’ve covered [persuasion](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/hostage-negotiation/ "undefined"), [leadership](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/greatest-leaders/ "undefined"), improving [habits](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/new-years-resolutions/ "undefined") and fighting [procrastination](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/chronic-procrastination/ "undefined") but what’s it take to get others to really give their best? ## **1) Stop Bribing Them** When actors would ask the great film director Alfred Hitchcock “What’s my motivation?” he would reply, “Your salary.” Rewards definitely [work](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/wildly-successful/ "undefined"). Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10GG/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- But as Dan Pink explains in [Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594484805/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1594484805 "undefined") there’s a problem with this equation: **Rewards just motivate people to get rewards.** When the rewards go away, people stop. And if you want anything other than basic manual labor — **if you want creative work or analytical work — rewards can actually** **backfire** **.** [Dan Pink](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594484805/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined") explains here: Yes, you need to pay people but you should pay them just enough to take the issue of money off the table. Pink shows that for complex tasks we’re more motivated by the need for autonomy, mastery and purpose. So if rewards are problematic, what does work? ## **2) Make Them Feel Something** We often talk about people being motivated by revenge, jealousy, fear, passion… What do these have in common? Yeah, they’re all feelings. And they’re all powerful motivators. **We rarely do anything we don’t feel and it’s very hard to resist things we do feel.** It’s [how your brain is structured](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/elephants-and-neuroscience/ "undefined"). Chip and Dan Heath sum up the research in their book [Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385528752/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0385528752&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- We often think of the workplace as less emotional, more formal and serious. And as far as motivation goes, _that’s a terrible idea_. **What strategies really improve organizations?** Research involving 400 people across 130 companies came up with a simple answer: **_You must change individual behavior by addressing employee feelings._** Via [Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385528752/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- So what’s the most powerful thing for people to be feeling if you want to increase motivation? ### See the 10 Healthiest Cities to Live in America  Honolulu, Hawaii Best Place for Lifelong Health The heavenly climate helps, but the key to well-being here also includes enviable health care and a rich cultural tradition of looking out for one another. Colin Anderson—Blend Images/Corbis  San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. Best Place for Eating Right. The "farm to table" movement began here. The region's bounty of produce and year-round growing season make eating healthy—and local—a natural. Getty Images  Burlington, Vt. Best Place for Raising Healthy Kids This New England city offers great schools, excellent pediatric care, loads of culture and limitless options for healthy outdoor fun all year long. Matt Hogan/www.mphoganphoto.com  Silicon Valley, Calif. Best Place for Workplace Wellness With treadmill desks, meetings on bikes, time off for creativity, and gobs of organic food, tech titans are reinventing how to stay healthy on the job. Jim Wilson—The New York Times/Redux  Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Best Place for Aging Well Yes, it can be cold. But with a plethora of stimulating activities and a robust web of support, the Twin Cities prove that growing old doesn't mean slowing down. Getty Images  Denver and Boulder, Colo. Best Place for Keeping Fit The urge to get outside and get moving is contagious in these Rocky Mountain cities, where physical challenge is built into the landscape. Celin Serbo—Aurora Photos/Corbis  Plano, Texas Best Place for Staying Safe Once a rural outpost, this booming, diverse city has kept its small-town vibe, thanks in part to a police force and community that knows how to work together. Misty Keasler—Redux for TIME  Portland, Ore. Best Place for a Healthy Environment Small, walkable neighborhoods, 300 miles of bike paths, and urban policies that foster active living and sustainability make for one clean, green city. Getty Images  Boston, Mass. Best Place for Health Care This history-rich city is home to some of the nation's most advanced medical institutions and policies that help ensure that quality care is available to all. K.C. Cohen—Courtesy of Boston Children's Hospital  Provo and Orem, Utah Best Place for Spiritual Well-Being A stunning Rocky Mountain backdrop and a tight-knit population that lives its faith contribute not only to this region's serenity but also to lower rates of disease. Getty Images ## **3) Emphasize Progress** Harvard’s Teresa Amabile‘s research found that **nothing is more motivating than** [**progress**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/what-is-the-most-powerful-management-techniqu/ "undefined")**.** 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"): --- > “” --- **A consistent amount of minor success produces** [**much more happiness**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/ "undefined") **than occasionally bagging an elephant.** Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10GG/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- You want a steady amount of challenge, achievement and feedback:  Progress is powerful. Encourage people to reflect on how far they’ve come and the good work they’ve done. That’s not indulgent or fluffy — **persistent people spend twice as long thinking about their accomplishments.** Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10GG/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Dan Ariely, author of [Predictably Irrational](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061353248/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061353248&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"), explains how when we feel no progress, when we feel our work is futile, motivation dies: So you made them feel something. You demonstrated progress. How do you keep the motivation flowing? ## **4) Form a Cult (Well, Almost)** Not literally. No funky robes or animal sacrifice necessary. But **what** **_else_** **unites a cult?** **Shared belief. A story.** Venture Capitalist Ben Horowitz explains that [the best work cultures](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/culture-change/ "undefined") are actually cults: a group unified by a provocative idea. Via [The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQ845EA/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DQ845EA&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Looking at the research: What gives life meaning? [Stories](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/4-steps-meaningful-life/ "undefined"). What gives work meaning? [Stories](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/love-what-you-do/ "undefined"). **What creates unity and morale?** [**Stories**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/great-team/ "undefined")**:** _Institutions that can communicate a compelling historical narrative often inspire a special kind of commitment among employees. It is this dedication that directly affects a company’s success and is critical to creating a strong corporate legacy…_ In his book [Leading Minds: An Anatomy Of Leadership](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0065M5J4E/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0065M5J4E&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined") Howard Gardner says “stories are the most powerful weapon in the leader’s literary arsenal.” One of the reasons Lincoln was such a good president was because [he was a great storyteller](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/03/lincoln-leadership/ "undefined"). **So how do you craft a good story that unites and motivates people?** Simon Sinek, author of [Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591846447/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"), has an interesting theory: **People are engaged and motivated by** **_why we do things_** **more than** **_what we do._** All motivating messages, from Apple’s marketing to Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, do the same thing: They start with “_Why_.” **Sum Up** Research actually shows [nagging works](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/does-nagging-work/ "undefined"): _Managers who are deliberately redundant as communicators move their projects forward more quickly and smoothly than those who are not._ **But have you ever accomplished your best work because someone nagged you? I didn’t think so.** Here’s what to do instead: 1. **Stop Bribing** 2. **Make Them Feel Something** 3. **Emphasize Progress** 4. **Start A Cult — (With A Story)** **Good thinking starts with strong feelings.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/ "undefined")**_._** **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined"). Related posts: [4 Lifehacks From Ancient Philosophers That Will Make You Happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/ancient-philosophers/ "undefined") [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/ "undefined") [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/ "undefined") _Read next:_ [_5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work Harder_](http://time.com/3486815/motivate-yourself-work-harder/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/53748/how-to-motivate-people-4-steps-backed-by-science/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/53748/how-to-motivate-people-4-steps-backed-by-science/"},"headline":"How to Motivate People: 4 Steps Backed by Science","datePublished":"2014-04-08T16:20:11.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:43:11.470Z","description":"Employees, spouses, kids — what does it take to get people motivated so you don’t have to nag them? 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