Category: Motivation
Why people do things, and why incentives so often disappoint. Self-determination, autonomy, purpose, recognition and the motivation that survives after the initiative ends.
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Psychological Contracts at Work
The psychological contract refers to the unwritten, implicit set of mutual expectations between an employee and their organisation. Unlike the formal employment contract, the psychological contract encompasses beliefs about promises, obligations, and reciprocal commitments that are rarely articulated but profoundly shape behaviour. Not all contracts are written down Every organisation has two […]
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Self-Determination Theory: Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness at Work
Self-Determination Theory (SDT), developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, is one of the most comprehensive and empirically supported frameworks in motivational psychology. It proposes that human beings have three basic psychological needs, autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and that the satisfaction or frustration of these needs profoundly shapes the quality of motivation, […]
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Psychological Capital: The HERO Within
Psychological Capital (PsyCap) is a higher-order positive psychological resource comprising Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO). It is linked with improved performance, wellbeing, engagement, and reduced cynicism, making it one of the more robust and practically useful constructs in organisational psychology. Psychological Capital Psychological Capital, or PsyCap, is a concept developed primarily […]
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Gratitude: The Psychology Behind Appreciation at Work
Gratitude is a multifaceted psychological construct involving both cognitive and affective dimensions, distinct from mere thankfulness or politeness. Research consistently links gratitude to improved wellbeing, prosocial behaviour, and stronger relationships, but its effects depend heavily on whether it arises authentically or is institutionally mandated. Gratitude is not what most people think it […]
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The Four Stages of Competence: From Unconscious Incompetence to Mastery
The Conscious Competence Model describes four stages that people move through when learning a new skill: unconscious incompetence (you do not know what you do not know), conscious incompetence (you become painfully aware of the gap), conscious competence (you can do it, but it requires deliberate effort), and unconscious competence (the skill […]
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Bullshit Jobs – Soul sucking jobs that add little value
In 2013, the late David Graeber coined the phrase “Bullshit Jobs” to describe jobs that are essentially meaningless and add little to society. Many of these jobs can be well paid, despite being soul-sucking and adding little societal value. Bullshit Jobs David Graeber, who passed away in 2020, published an article titled […]
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Ikigai – Helping you find your happy place at work
Ikigai is a Japanese phrase meaning “life worth living” that has been absorbed into western culture as a four lens tool through which to consider if your work is giving you want you need to be happy. As with many things like this, it’s a bit disputed. Ikigai Ikigai, as generally accepted […]
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E186 – Proactivity At Work With Dr. Joe Gray
From the archive This episode is from The World of Work Podcast, made by James Carrier and Jane Stewart at the World of Work Project — a previous venture of ours. All 187 episodes, recorded between 2019 and 2024, are kept here because the conversations still hold up. You can find Jane on LinkedIn, and…
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E159 – Cultic Behaviours in organisations – Part 4: Purpose
From the archive This episode is from The World of Work Podcast, made by James Carrier and Jane Stewart at the World of Work Project — a previous venture of ours. All 187 episodes, recorded between 2019 and 2024, are kept here because the conversations still hold up. You can find Jane on LinkedIn, and…
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E155 – Cultic Behaviours in organisations – Part 1: Introduction
From the archive This episode is from The World of Work Podcast, made by James Carrier and Jane Stewart at the World of Work Project — a previous venture of ours. All 187 episodes, recorded between 2019 and 2024, are kept here because the conversations still hold up. You can find Jane on LinkedIn, and…
