June 17, 2025
Does your company do engagement surveys? I often see organizations scramble for answers when the scores are less than stellar. I must admit, I have mixed feelings about these surveys. I’ve seen it so many times—leaders searching for the magic fix, policies rewritten, perks added, and yet… real engagement still feels out of reach.
Don’t get me wrong: organizational culture and values matter. Leaders absolutely have a responsibility to create an environment where people can engage. But here’s what often gets overlooked—motivation and engagement are, at their core, intrinsic emotions. No one can engage for you. No one can motivate you on your behalf. That spark has to come from within. I’m reminded of something Srikumar Rao once said…
“Passion does not exist in the job. It exists in you.”
If you want to feel excited about your work again, the journey starts on the inside—not in your job description, not in the latest company initiative, but in your own mindset. Start by looking inward.
How to Start Finding Your Internal Motivation
- Reconnect with what excites you. Ask yourself: What parts of your work give you energy? What have you enjoyed—even in small moments—recently? What do you look forward to doing or choose to do first?
- Focus on people, product, and purpose. Engagement often comes from feeling connected to the people you work with, the product you contribute to, or the purpose behind your organization. Where do you feel the strongest connection?
- Don’t get distracted by the “hygiene factors.” As Herzberg described, things like pay or bureaucracy can cause disengagement, but they rarely create true satisfaction. See what you can influence, but don’t let these factors define your experience.
- Look for meaning in the bigger picture. How does your work matter in the grand scheme? Remind yourself of the impact you have—on your team, your customers, or your community.
- Take ownership of your engagement. Motivation is personal. Challenge yourself to find or create moments that matter to you, rather than waiting for them to be handed to you.
True engagement stems from a deep-seated feeling that your work matters. This sense of purpose is a powerful driver of job satisfaction.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting for someone or something else to reignite your spark. But the real shift happens when you look inside, not outside. Engagement isn’t a policy—it’s a feeling, and you are the one who gets to cultivate it.
If you’re looking to re-engage with your work, look inside.
What’s one thing you can do this week to reconnect with your internal motivation? I’d love to hear your thoughts—just reply and share your experience.