A simple way to inspire your team | David Burkus | Ted Talks Daily

Intro

In this episode of Ted Talks Daily, David Burkus discusses the importance of purpose in inspiring and motivating teams at work. He shares insights from KPMG’s successful implementation of purpose-driven initiatives and highlights the power of individual storytelling in creating a sense of pro-social motivation.

Main Takeaways

Purpose as a Motivator

• Purpose is key to motivating teams at work.
• KPMG improved morale and engagement by putting purpose at the core of their engagement effort.
• KPMG launched the We Shape History campaign to tell stories of how their work served a higher purpose.
• Most people are more motivated by a clear answer to the question “who is served by the work that we do?” than a compelling answer to “why do we do it?”

Impact and Inspiration

• Employees are less inspired by a compelling mission statement and more motivated by knowing who is impacted by their work.
• Workers are more motivated when they know who is impacted by their work.
• Annual turnover in university call centers exceeds 400%.
• Meeting someone who directly benefited from their work doubled the number of calls and revenue.

Pro-Social Motivation

• Workers are inspired by a sense of pro-social motivation, the desire to protect and promote the well-being of others.
• Pro-social purpose is what we want from our work.
• We all want to do work that matters and work for leaders who tell us we matter.

The Power of Storytelling

• The 10,000 Stories Challenge launched by WeShap leaders resulted in 42,000 stories of how employees were making a difference.
• WeShap’s approach to purpose shifted from a collective “why” to an individual “who,” helping each employee find a specific answer to who is served by the work they do.
• Leaders should become chief storytelling officers, always ready to tell the story of how their team’s work has made a difference in someone’s life.
• Individuals can motivate themselves and others by capturing instances of how their work has served others and using them as powerful stories.

Summary

Purpose as a Motivator

David Burkus emphasizes that purpose is a crucial factor in motivating teams at work. By putting purpose at the core of their engagement efforts, KPMG was able to improve morale and engagement. The We Shape History campaign launched by KPMG aimed to tell stories of how their work served a higher purpose. Burkus suggests that most people are more motivated by knowing who is served by the work they do rather than just understanding why they do it.

Impact and Inspiration

Employees are less inspired by compelling mission statements and more motivated by knowing who is impacted by their work. Burkus shares the example of university call centers, where meeting someone who directly benefited from their work doubled the number of calls and revenue. This highlights the importance of connecting employees with the real-world impact of their efforts.

Pro-Social Motivation

Workers are inspired by a sense of pro-social motivation, which involves the desire to protect and promote the well-being of others. Burkus emphasizes that we all want to do work that matters and work for leaders who acknowledge and appreciate our contributions. Cultivating a pro-social purpose in the workplace can lead to increased motivation and satisfaction among employees.

The Power of Storytelling

WeShap leaders launched the 10,000 Stories Challenge, resulting in an overwhelming response of 42,000 stories of how employees were making a difference. This approach shifted the focus from a collective “why” to an individual “who,” helping each employee find a specific answer to who is served by their work. Burkus suggests that leaders should take on the role of chief storytelling officers, always ready to share the stories of how their team’s work has positively impacted someone’s life. Individuals can also motivate themselves and others by capturing instances of how their work has served others and using these stories as powerful motivators.

Conclusion

David Burkus highlights the importance of purpose, impact, pro-social motivation, and storytelling in inspiring and motivating teams at work. By understanding who is served by their work and sharing powerful stories, leaders can create a sense of purpose and motivation among employees. Ultimately, we all strive to do work that matters and work for leaders who recognize and value our contributions.