What's the most common assumption the client or stakeholder brings in that you end up having to challenge?

Mar 31 • General

Yesterday, I shared research about managers piling extra work onto their most intrinsically motivated people, based on the assumption that those people will enjoy it. The technical term the researchers use is "motive oversimplification".

Here's what I'm curious about from your own experience: when you design for engagement or motivation in an organization, what's the most common assumption the client or stakeholder brings in that you end up having to challenge?

Drop your pick in the poll, or write the assumption you hear most often in the comments. I'm curious whether the motive oversimplification problem is something you run into from the outside (as a designer or consultant) or something you're fighting from the inside.

Motivated people will just figure it out

We just need to add more incentives

Our people are disengaged because they don't care

We already know what motivates our team

2 votes

3 comments