PART TWO
The Intrinsic Rewards That Drive Engagement

A MANAGEMENT TALE, CONTINUED

THE WISE CONSULTANT traveled widely to talk with the new workers and returned to share his learnings. He told the executives of the more Purposeful nature of the new work and of the active Self-Management required for worker Engagement, and the executives could see that this was so.

“What, then, is the key to this Engagement?” asked the executives. “Is it Money for their value-added?”

“You need to provide Fair Pay, of course, and Training for skills. For there are other employers who will provide these if you do not. But I have learned that the key to Engagement is not money. It has more to do with the Heart.”

The executives bade him explain, so the consultant continued. “In truth, to actively self-manage is Demanding for them. But they are not opposed to such demands. After all, most are parents and give much of themselves in that way. What they crave—in work as in parenting—is the sense that they make a Positive Difference in something of value. They long to feel that their Conscientiousness is making a Contribution on life’s stage—that their efforts are advancing a Worthy Purpose. They are Fulfilled, and their Engagement Sustained when their Self-Management is effective in such a cause. Then their work truly gives back to them. But, alas, they become Bitter and Dispirited when their Conscientiousness seems for naught.”

Again, the executives heard in this message the echoes of their own motivation. “This has the ring of truth for us,” they said. “Yet it is very general. To manage for Engagement, we will need to know more. What exactly do workers need from their work, that we may better enable it?”

“Ah,” said the consultant, “this is the key. The rewards that power workers’ engagement come from the very steps of their Self-Management. For in Self-Management, they make ongoing judgments of the Meaningfulness of their purpose, the Choice allowed them, the Competence of their activities, and the Progress being made. These four judgments, when they are positive, are the Rewards that drive Engagement. These are the things you must attend to, for their effects are most Powerful.”