8 P’S OF WORK™

82 YEARS OF SCIENCE → 8 HUMAN MOTIVATORS

A science-backed model to provide a common language for work motivation:

Pay

Progression

Prestige

People

Product

Personal

Policy

Power

Based on the most cited scientific papers going back 82 years and applauded by 440+ professionals at:

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396.

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: Herzberg, F., Mausner, B., & Snyderman, B. B. (1959). The Motivation to Work. Wiley.

McClelland's Theory of Needs: McClelland, D. C. (1961). The Achieving Society. Free Press.

Deci & Ryan's Self-Determination Theory: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Plenum Press.

Reiss's 16 Basic Desires Theory: Reiss, S. (2004). Multifaceted Nature of Intrinsic Motivation: The Theory of 16 Basic Desires. Review of General Psychology, 8(3), 179–193.

Pink's Work on Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose: Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Riverhead Books.

Appelo's Moving Motivators (CHAMPFROG): Appelo, J. (2010). Management 3.0: Leading Agile Developers, Developing Agile Leaders. Addison-Wesley Professional.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396. Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: Herzberg, F., Mausner, B., & Snyderman, B. B. (1959). The Motivation to Work. Wiley. McClelland's Theory of Needs: McClelland, D. C. (1961). The Achieving Society. Free Press. Deci & Ryan's Self-Determination Theory: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Plenum Press. Reiss's 16 Basic Desires Theory: Reiss, S. (2004). Multifaceted Nature of Intrinsic Motivation: The Theory of 16 Basic Desires. Review of General Psychology, 8(3), 179–193. Pink's Work on Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose: Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Riverhead Books. Appelo's Moving Motivators (CHAMPFROG): Appelo, J. (2010). Management 3.0: Leading Agile Developers, Developing Agile Leaders. Addison-Wesley Professional.

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WHY?

We have an eyebrow crisis

You can answer this question in less than a second. It’s easy because your name doesn’t change.
But motivation does change. And that makes it more complex.
This question takes more time to answer, but still manageable in a few thoughts. Why? Because your favourite color can change over time, but it’s easy to pick a new one because we have 4 basic colors and variations on those, like a ‘menu’.
But with motivation, nothing like it exists. We miss a common language.
This is where the eyebrow crisis hits.
Either they go up and your mind goes blank (you almost have an existential crisis), or they go down in a frown, listing everything you did this week so you can pick something.
But a response in less than a few seconds? Often not possible.
Why? Because motivation changes over time, and we don’t have a common language, a common ‘menu’.