Progress Principle: Post #3--Positive Inner Work Life

Positive Inner Work Life results from certain conditions that “foster positive emotions, strong internal motivation, and favorable perceptions of colleagues and the work itself “(p. 1). Such a positive inner work life for employees translates into better creativity, productivity, work commitment, and collegiality at work. Facilitating progress is the best way to motivate people, but most (95%) managers and leaders just don’t get it!

Progress Principle: Post #2--Inner Work Life

Inner Work Life is composed of the unspoken perceptions, emotions, and motivations of people at work and has a great effect on creativity and productivity of both people and companies. “Inner work life is the mostly invisible part of each individual’s experience—the thoughts, feelings, and drives triggered by the events of the workday.” To study this phenomenon, the authors’ study conducted research with 238 people and 26 project teams in 7 companies in 3 different industries; they asked employees to fill out a daily diary/questionnaire, especially responding to this question: “Briefly describe one event from today that stands out in your mind.” The event had to relate to work and could be positive, negative or neutral. Fully, 75% of responses were returned with nearly 12,000 responses about the emotional inner work life of people.

Progress Principle: Post #1--Overview

Overview: At work, what do people really want? After extensive research, these two distinguished professors at Harvard conclude that people want to make progress toward meaningful work every day.  Such progress gets enhanced or thwarted by employees’ emotions, perceptions, and motivations (inner work life). Further, their inner work life is directly affected by their managers’ inner work life.  Effective leaders provide greater possibilities for progress by providing catalysts and nourishers, and prevent setbacks by removing inhibitors and toxins. The authors conclude that keeping a daily journal to record and reflect on one event (good or bad) that stands out will aid perceptions, emotions, and motivators and enhance inner work life. Great advice going forward for any leader!

The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work (Harvard Business Press, 2011) by Teresa Amabile and Steve Kramer, reviewed by 
Steve Gladis, Ph.D.