July 24, 2019
Editorial
Harvard Business Review (website)

How to Make Even the Most Mundane Tasks More Motivating

By: Jaewon Yoon, A.V. Whillans and Ed O'Brien

Format:Electronic

Abstract

People want purposeful work, and managers know it. That’s why companies try to inspire employees with mission statements about the impact their work can have. Ikea tells employees they’re “creating a better everyday life”; Microsoft says they’re “empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more in the world.” Managers often encourage employees to think about why they do the work they do, hoping to give them a sense of purpose and fight against demotivation.

Keywords

Employees; Motivation and Incentives; Goals and Objectives; Perspective

Citation

Yoon, Jaewon, A.V. Whillans, and Ed O'Brien. "How to Make Even the Most Mundane Tasks More Motivating." Harvard Business Review (website) (July 24, 2019).