Building a Sense of Purpose: The Key to Motivating and Engaging Your Team
I have been asked to teach a continuing education class on building employee engagement and satisfaction, so I’ve been digging into previous sessions and doing additional research. All this work brings me back to the idea that motivation—whether in the workplace, classroom, or family—is more than just a feel-good concept—it’s the foundation of high-performing groups.
When motivation is high, people are engaged, productive, and innovative. When it is low, everything and everyone suffers.
Research shows you need four things for people to be motivated:
A sense of team and belonging
Autonomy
Flexibility
Stimulating work
My decades of work, teaching, and personal experience have shown that creating a shared sense of purpose within your team is by far the most motivating factor out there.
There is a classic parable often used to illustrate the importance of this shared sense of purpose. The story goes like this:
A traveler came upon three bricklayers working at a construction site and asked each of them what they were doing.
The first bricklayer replied, “I’m laying bricks.” He was focused on the immediate task at hand and saw it as a means to an end, with no greater meaning attached.
The second bricklayer said, “I’m building a wall for a building.” His view was slightly broader; he understood he was part of a larger project, but he still saw it as just a job.
The third bricklayer looked up with pride and said, “I’m building a cathedral to worship my God.” This person saw his work as part of something much greater than himself—a contribution to a meaningful and enduring legacy.
This story shows that a shared sense of purpose can elevate individual tasks into a collective mission that inspires greater commitment, collaboration, and fulfillment. It highlights the value of understanding the collective why behind what we do.
As a leader, both in your work and your family, you shape people’s daily experiences, so you can affect your people’s “why.”
Choose to create an atmosphere in which people are inspired to bring their best selves to the world. Know your collective “why” and reiterate that purpose every chance you get. This is the key to motivating your people.