The other side of motivation

People must be one of the most complicated organisms on the planet to collaborate with, am I right?

When thinking about individual and team motivation, a lingering concept pops up from the dark corners of my mind:

Hygiene and motivating factors.

Sounds… Strange? Or simple?

For it to be explained a bit, you ask? Well, sure!

Motivating factors cause people to be, well, motivated. That’s what most people and leaders think of. Let’s create some incentives that will get people engaged!

A nice reward, a team lunch, a celebration, a promotion. Maybe a milestone in the product, a recognition, a personal victory.

Lots of words have been spoken about this and the gates of LinkedIn are flooded with slide decks explaining the concepts.

But there’s another side of the balance, another direction the scale can be tipped.

They are called Hygiene factors.

Hygiene factors cause people to be dissatisfied.

Maybe it’s that micro-managing boss. Or that team member who’s always complaining. Maybe it’s a subtle thing, like a promise that was never kept. Or a big important moment for a person that was forgotten.

Do you think about both motivating and hygiene factors?

How will you create an environment where both are safe to be discussed?