Did you know that LLUNA was born in Philadelphia? (#gobirds!)
As the Philadelphia Eagles gear up for their second Super Bowl appearance in five years, any Philadelphia fan will be quick to rave about their - not just good - but great team.
So, what makes the Eagles so great?
Is it because of their leader and quarterback, Jalen Hurts? Maybe it’s due to their lineup of valuable players including Lane Johnson, Haason Reddick, A.J. Brown, Jason Kelce, and more. Or perhaps they owe it all to the Philadelphia fans who (although sometimes crazy) are always cheering them on.
Realistically, we can’t attribute the Eagles’ success to one specific factor. It isn’t just one player that’s led the birds to a 16-3 record. It’s the way the players, coaches, and fans are aligned and motivated that makes them so special.
Meaningful work drives successful teams.
From getting Swoop tattoos to conquering greased lamp posts, the city of Philadelphia LOVES its team. This passion, instilled in every Eagles player, is what drives the athletes to do their best. Corporate America, however, often leaves people feeling like they are on autopilot, finding little meaning or motivation in their work.
When team members find their work to be meaningful, they are 75% more committed to their organization, 49% less likely to leave, and their performance increases by 33%.
How do you instill meaning in the workplace? While we can’t all be passionate about excel sheets or quarterly reports, don’t underestimate the driving value of personal success. The self-determination theory suggests that intrinsic motivation is experienced when three needs are met: autonomy, relatedness, and competence.
Autonomy: This is the extent to which team members can operate on their own terms. Don’t confuse autonomy with independence! It’s merely the notion of team members having free will in determining how and when they do their work. As flexibility grows within the workforce, we find that 78% of employees report that flexible work arrangements made them more productive.
Competence: When team members feel successful they become successful. This is the desire for team members to feel the output and success of their work. People like to know that their skills and strengths are being utilized. Be sure to make an active effort to highlight each teammate's skills and how they can work best. Utilizing tools, such as personal user manuals, is an easy way to get familiar with the skills and strengths of each member.
Relatedness: Aka connection. We all know that connected teams perform 56% better. And that power of belonging is what keeps team members motivated! Whether it’s a football team or a marketing firm, experiencing belonging and a sense of personal relationships is crucial to obtaining success. After swapping personal user manuals with your teammates, be sure to find common interests to relate to (even if that common interest is being a Chiefs fan…)
So, what do you think? With a little more intentional motivation, your team has what it takes to go from being good to great. And who knew that the Eagles’ success all came down to a psychological theory!
Cover Photo: source
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