Moving motivators is a powerful exercise that helps individuals and teams uncover the core values driving their behavior at work. Have you ever wondered why some team members thrive while others struggle to stay engaged? The answer often lies in understanding what truly inspires each person.
This simple yet effective tool, developed as part of Management 3.0, enables leaders to explore intrinsic motivation and create environments where everyone feels valued. When teams understand their individual drivers, collaboration improves, and employee engagement naturally increases.
In this article, you will learn how this card-based activity works, why it matters for modern workplaces, and practical steps to implement it with your team. Whether you are a manager, HR professional, or team lead, this guide will help you build stronger connections and unlock hidden potential within your workforce.
What Are Moving Motivators and How Do They Work
Moving motivators is an interactive card-based exercise designed to help individuals identify their core workplace values. Created by Jurgen Appelo as part of the Management 3.0 framework, this tool uses ten motivation cards representing different drivers that influence how people feel about their work.
Each card represents a specific motivator such as curiosity, honor, acceptance, mastery, power, freedom, relatedness, order, goal, and status. Participants arrange these cards from most important to least important based on their personal preferences.
The Ten Motivation Cards Explained
Understanding each card helps teams gain deeper insights into workplace motivation patterns. Here is what each motivator represents:
- Curiosity refers to the desire to learn and explore new things.
- Honor means feeling proud of your organization’s values.
- Acceptance involves being appreciated by colleagues.
- Mastery represents the drive to improve skills and expertise.
- Power relates to influencing decisions and outcomes.
- Freedom means having independence in your work.
- Relatedness involves building strong connections with coworkers.
- Order represents stability and predictable environments.
- Goal means having a clear purpose and direction.
- Status relates to recognition and social standing.
The History Behind This Powerful Tool
Jurgen Appelo introduced moving motivators as part of his broader work on modern management practices. He recognized that traditional approaches to employee engagement often failed because they ignored individual differences.
Why Traditional Motivation Methods Fall Short
Most companies depend on standard rewards such as salary increases or career advancement to motivate employees. However, research shows that intrinsic motivation plays a much larger role in long-term satisfaction. What drives one person might not matter to another.
This tool emerged from the understanding that sustainable engagement comes from aligning work with personal values. By making motivation visible and discussable, teams can address issues before they become problems.
Why Moving Motivators Matter for Modern Teams
Today’s workplace demands more than just completing tasks. People want meaningful work that connects with their deeper aspirations. Moving motivators provides a structured way to have these important conversations.
Building Stronger Team Dynamics
When team members understand each other’s drivers, collaboration becomes smoother. A person who values freedom might struggle with micromanagement, while someone prioritizing order needs clear guidelines. This awareness prevents unnecessary conflicts.
The exercise also helps managers adapt their leadership style to individual needs. Instead of applying one approach to everyone, leaders can customize their interactions based on what matters most to each person.
Key Benefits of Using This Exercise
Organizations implementing moving motivators regularly report significant improvements in several areas.
Enhanced Self Awareness
Participants often discover surprising insights about themselves. Many people have never consciously examined what truly drives their behavior. This reflection leads to better career decisions and increased job satisfaction.
Improved Communication
Teams that practice this exercise develop a shared vocabulary for discussing workplace values. Rather than vague complaints about feeling unmotivated, people can articulate specific needs and preferences.
Better Change Management
When organizations face transitions, this tool helps predict how different team members might react. Someone valuing stability will need more support during restructuring than someone embracing freedom and variety.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
While moving motivators is straightforward, some obstacles can reduce its effectiveness.
Creating Psychological Safety
Participants must feel comfortable sharing honest responses. Without trust, people might choose cards they think others expect rather than their genuine preferences. Leaders should emphasize that no answer is wrong.
Avoiding One Time Usage
The real value comes from ongoing conversations, not single exercises. Team motivation evolves over time, so revisiting this tool during major changes or regular check-ins produces better results.
Connecting Insights to Action
Discovering motivators means nothing without follow-through. Managers must actively use these insights when assigning projects, providing feedback, and designing team building activities. Otherwise, the exercise becomes meaningless.
Practical Applications in Real Workplaces
Many organizations use moving motivators during onboarding to help new hires integrate faster. Others incorporate it into performance reviews or team retrospectives. Some companies even display motivation profiles in shared spaces to encourage ongoing awareness.
Conclusion
Understanding what drives your team is essential for creating a thriving workplace. Moving motivators offers a simple yet powerful way to uncover these hidden drivers and transform how people connect with their work.
By using this exercise, leaders can improve employee engagement, strengthen team dynamics, and build environments where everyone feels valued. The ten motivation cards provide a common language for meaningful conversations about workplace values.
Whether you are managing a small group or leading an entire department, implementing moving motivators can unlock potential you never knew existed. Start the conversation today and watch your team flourish with renewed purpose and energy.