HBR Guide to Motivating People (HBR Guide Series)

INTRODUCTION

Why Motivation Is a Manager’s Job

by Susan David

We need to talk about motivation. While every workplace has its share of employees who are just punching the clock, the problem is much more troubling than many imagine. In fact, the latest iteration (2017) of Gallup’s “State of the American Workplace” report shows dismal engagement levels among workers, and the numbers are barely budging. Between the 2017 report and the previous one, published in 2013, engagement held at around 30 percent in the United States and 13 percent globally. This means that nearly nine out of ten people are not engaged at work, a situation Gallup researchers refer to as a “crisis in employee engagement.”

Calling this a crisis is no hyperbole. When compared ...