20 ways employees are motivated by their work (2024)

1. The chance to make an impact

“It is important that I am part of something that is bigger than myself. Iseek out ways to contribute to important projects that provide me with a sense of ownership both in my own work and my overall work environment. Making an impact in this industry and in customer’s lives is motivating.”

- Sejal Amin, VP of Corporate Tax Technology | Hoboken, NJ, USA

2. Learningsomething new

“Learning is what I love about my job the most, and I would do it even if I didn't get paid. This isn't just about the technology, although I love that too, for me it's also about finding ways to be more effective. I always want to see what's around the next corner, and having the freedom to apply that learning to the work I do every day has been one of the best parts of working at TR.”

- Matt Buckley, Director of Barossa Technology | Exmouth, UK

3. Finding innovative solutions

“Finding innovative ways of approaching a problem or helping the team solve an issueis my creative outlet. I love thinking up fresh solutions or designs. I also like to be challenged to help make them more effective or providing inspiration to pivot to a new idea. It's exciting to see customers using somethingwe only initially imagined in our minds.”

Ian Stuart, Senior Product Manager | Melbourne, AU

4. Staying curious

“Every day brings something new and different and that surprise is motivating to me. I like learning new things that I never could have imagined I would have encountered or comprehended.”

– Claire Crossman, Director of Product Management | Hoboken, NJ, USA

5. Working with great people in a great culture

“Throughout my tenure at TR I have worked with great colleagues. I can't stress enough about the culture we have which acts as a catalyst to innovate, try new things, not to be afraid of failures. I'mchallenged and at the same time encouraged to find creative ways to solve problems.I'm grateful to the great leaders we have who inspire me every day to be passionate and to love my job.”

– Sathya Venuraju, Senior Manager of Software Engineering | Carrollton, TX, USA

6. Having fun

“The work we do is complex and never-ending, but every call or meeting, even the tough ones, are always dotted with a personal connection, laughter and a bit of fun. We spend the majority of ourtime in the office, we should enjoy it.”

– Christine Imaizumi, Manager of User Experience | Carrollton, TX, USA

7. Continuous improvement

“As different parts of our application and infrastructure mature, we’re more able to understand where we can most profitably apply effort. We can choose long-term solutions over short-term fixes. As we fix each problem, we’re more stable, more predictable and more able to identify the next target. We’re demonstrably trending towards a better and more productive state.”

– Stephen Fletcher, Manager | Exmouth, UK

8. Having flexibility

“The value that embracing flexible working practices brings to the lives of TR employees should not be underestimated. Work is such a big part of everyone's life but is always balanced with home life. I've written previously about the advantages that flexible working brings to both TR and its employees - it's a two-way benefit. I have no doubt that my motivation to work here and deliver results has been hugely influenced by this.”

– Stuart Morris, Technical Business Analyst | London, UK

9. Sharing knowledge and helping others succeed

“I really appreciate how open we are about what we learn, and how we try to push our knowledge out beyond the team. Doing demos, writing documents, getting up on-stage at user groups... Ilovethat stuff.”

- Cariad Eccleston, Lead Software Engineer | Exmouth, UK

10. Techi-ness

“There is no denying I'm a techie at heart. No amount of management can take that out of me.At work every day, the sheer amount of technology that I am exposed to, drives me in ways none of the other factors can.”

– Srikanth Subramanian, Senior Manager of Technology | Carrollton, TX, USA

11. Great colleagues who consistently challenge the status quo

“My colleagues are a motivation to come into work every day as they consistently try to challenge the way things are done. We always end up storming on how to better do things and it always leads to productive discussions.”

– Suchit Subramanian, Lead Software Engineer | Hyderabad, IN

12. Solving puzzles

“Life is one big puzzle. I have always enjoyed knowing how and why things work. Once I learn how something works, I can use it more effectively. There is also always a pleasure in seeing things that are thoughtfully well made. And learning from them and applying it your own creations.”

- Kevin Happe, Software Architect | Carrollton, TX, USA

13. Empowering others

“Nothing gets me going more than the satisfaction I get from being able to empower someone. Be it encouraging a coworker to adapt to change, removing impediments for the team, building a better software to empower our customer achieve their goals… everything excites me.”

– Sayra Shahlin, Scrum Master | Carrollton, TX, USA

14. The feeling of progress

“I would like to have a vision of the career progress path, so I can work towards it. The organization gives us resources to determine what we all can achieve and what we need to accomplish our goals is the most important thing for me.”

– Prabha Karavadi, Lead Software Engineer | Carrollton, TX, USA

15. Giving back to the community

“When not at work or with my family, the thing that I enjoy doing the most is volunteering my time to help others. It is a dream come true when passion meets work. I derive a lot of pride and satisfaction working for a company that aims to make a difference in the world and in the lives of the not so privileged, like the work of theThomson Reuters Foundation. Thomson Reuters provides me with so many avenues to give back to the community.”

– Sangeetha Anand, Agile Transformation Coach and Project Manager | Carrollton, TX, USA

16. Self-actualization

“I enjoy applying my talents to a greater good. Always learning new things and sharing my experiences with others is very satisfying. I love delivering valuable solutions to customers, and feeling a part of the development process.”

– Mike Oransky, Senior Manager of Technology | Carrollton, TX, USA

17. Sense of belonging

“Sense of belonging is a human need just like food and shelter. The fact that I am a part of an organization which promotes a strong work ethic always makes me want to contribute more towards the common goal of the company and the team. If the company cares about the well-being of employees, I as an employee feel like giving my 100% to achieve the common goal we share in the organization.”

– Paridhi Dixit, Senior Software Engineer | Carrollton, TX, USA

18. A great work environment

“The workplace environment often has the biggest impact on how motivated you are at work. You thrive when you are part of an upbeat, supportive environment that gets you "in the zone" that you need to be in so that you succeed. That’s exactly what TR offers me here! I fortunately have a support team that helps motivate me and encourages me to be better at what I do.”

– Sneha Panesar, Senior Business Analyst | Hoboken, NJ, USA

19. The challenge

“A good challenge that I can sink my teeth into will not only get me up in the morning, but will keep me engaged well into the night as well. One downside to this, is that the challenge will also keep me upthroughthe night as well, but that's a different challenge of its own. I've found that its less important about my interest in the challenge as the challenge itself! This transcends work and motivates my life in innumerable ways.”

- Bill Ibbetson, Senior Director of Technology | Lake Oswego, OR, USA

20. Family

“I think this is a consistent theme. I have an awesome wife who supports me with all the crazy work/travel/sports/non-profit work that I get myself into! My kids, both girls, 9 and 8 are smart, curious and inquisitive all the time to the point where I had to get an Echo to divert some of the questions to :-) When I have an important presentation to deliver, my family is usually my first audience! Being excited about the work that me and my wife do is a very important attribute for them to see and model their future lives around.”

– Ravikumar Nemalikanti, Senior Director of Technology | Carrollton, TX, USA

As an expert in organizational dynamics and workplace motivation, I can attest to the crucial role that employee engagement and satisfaction play in driving productivity and success within a company. The provided statements from various professionals in the technology industry shed light on key concepts and factors that contribute to a motivated and fulfilled workforce. Let's delve into each concept mentioned in the article:

  1. The chance to make an impact:

    • Sejal Amin emphasizes the importance of contributing to projects that provide a sense of ownership and make a meaningful impact on both the industry and customers' lives.
  2. Learning something new:

    • Matt Buckley expresses a deep love for learning, not just about technology but also about finding more effective ways to approach his work and tasks.
  3. Finding innovative solutions:

    • Ian Stuart sees solving problems and finding innovative solutions as his creative outlet, enjoying the process of thinking up fresh designs and being challenged to make them more effective.
  4. Staying curious:

    • Claire Crossman finds motivation in the surprises that each day brings, valuing the opportunity to learn new things and encounter unexpected challenges.
  5. Working with great people in a great culture:

    • Sathya Venuraju highlights the importance of a positive workplace culture that encourages innovation, risk-taking, and creative problem-solving.
  6. Having fun:

    • Christine Imaizumi emphasizes the importance of enjoying work, even in the face of complexity, and finding moments of personal connection, laughter, and fun during calls and meetings.
  7. Continuous improvement:

    • Stephen Fletcher discusses the benefits of continuous improvement, where addressing problems leads to increased stability, predictability, and the ability to identify and tackle the next challenge.
  8. Having flexibility:

    • Stuart Morris appreciates the value of flexible working practices, acknowledging the positive impact on both employees and the organization's success.
  9. Sharing knowledge and helping others succeed:

    • Cariad Eccleston expresses a passion for sharing knowledge openly, whether through demos, documents, or public speaking, and finds fulfillment in helping others succeed.
  10. Techi-ness:

    • Srikanth Subramanian acknowledges his love for technology, emphasizing how exposure to a variety of technologies daily drives and motivates him.
  11. Great colleagues who consistently challenge the status quo:

    • Suchit Subramanian draws motivation from colleagues who challenge existing norms, sparking productive discussions on improving processes and approaches.
  12. Solving puzzles:

    • Kevin Happe finds joy in solving puzzles and appreciates thoughtfully well-made creations, applying lessons learned to his own work.
  13. Empowering others:

    • Sayra Shahlin derives motivation from empowering others, whether it's helping a coworker adapt to change or building software to empower customers to achieve their goals.
  14. The feeling of progress:

    • Prabha Karavadi values having a clear career progress path, utilizing organizational resources to achieve personal and professional goals.
  15. Giving back to the community:

    • Sangeetha Anand finds pride and satisfaction in working for a company that provides avenues to give back to the community, aligning passion with work.
  16. Self-actualization:

    • Mike Oransky enjoys applying his talents to a greater good, always learning and sharing experiences, and feeling a sense of accomplishment in delivering valuable solutions to customers.
  17. Sense of belonging:

    • Paridhi Dixit emphasizes the importance of a sense of belonging within an organization, driven by a strong work ethic and mutual care for employees' well-being.
  18. A great work environment:

    • Sneha Panesar recognizes the impact of a positive workplace environment on motivation, thriving when part of a supportive team that encourages personal and professional growth.
  19. The challenge:

    • Bill Ibbetson finds motivation in challenges, emphasizing the importance of the challenge itself rather than just personal interest.
  20. Family:

    • Ravikumar Nemalikanti underscores the role of family in providing support and motivation, with an understanding spouse and curious children being sources of inspiration.

In summary, these professionals highlight diverse yet interconnected factors that contribute to their motivation and job satisfaction, emphasizing the significance of personal growth, positive workplace culture, and a sense of purpose in the technology industry.

20 ways employees are motivated by their work (2024)
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