Motivation & Engagement
Do you support autonomy, build competence, and foster genuine connection? This assessment measures how well leaders create the conditions for intrinsic motivation, grounded in Self-Determination Theory. Available as a self-assessment or with multi-rater input from up to 5 observers.
What It Measures
Decades of research show that intrinsic motivation depends on three psychological needs. This assessment measures how well leaders support each one:
Supporting Autonomy
Do people feel ownership over their work?
- Choice & Self-Direction
- Rationale & Transparency
Building Competence
Are people growing and getting feedback?
- Challenge & Growth
- Recognition & Feedback
Fostering Relatedness
Do people feel valued and connected?
- Belonging & Inclusion
- Individualized Connection
How It Works
Motivation & Engagement can be used as a self-assessment or as a multi-rater assessment. In self-assessment mode, the leader evaluates their own motivational practices. In multi-rater mode, the leader also invites up to 5 observers (direct reports, peers, or managers) to provide their perspective. Each respondent completes 30 paired-comparison items, indicating which of two leadership behaviors better describes the leader and how strongly.
Reports compare self-perception against observer ratings across all six factors, highlighting where motivational practices are strongest and where development will have the most impact.
Who Uses This
- Coaches: Help leaders understand why their team may be disengaged—and what to do about it
- Workshop facilitators: Run a focused session on motivation that goes beyond surface-level engagement tactics
- Retention initiatives: Address the root causes of turnover through better motivational leadership
- Leadership programs: Combine with other Achieving Leader assessments for comprehensive development
The Science
- Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan)—one of the most validated motivation frameworks in psychology
- 40+ years of cross-cultural validation research
- Thurstonian IRT scoring with percentile reporting
- Bilingual English/Spanish
Common Questions
How does this differ from satisfaction or engagement surveys?
Motivation & Engagement is a behavioral leadership assessment grounded in Self-Determination Theory. Rather than measuring how employees feel, it measures what leaders actually do to create the conditions for intrinsic motivation — autonomy support, competence building, and fostering genuine connection.
What is Self-Determination Theory and why does it matter?
SDT research shows that autonomy, competence, and relatedness are the three fundamental drivers of intrinsic motivation. Leaders who intentionally support all three create work environments where people are engaged because they find the work meaningful and rewarding, not just because it is required.
How does this assessment help with retention?
Retention is directly tied to motivation. When leaders understand which motivational practices they excel at and where they need development, they can make targeted changes that significantly impact whether talented people stay or leave.
Can I use this as a self-assessment without observers?
Yes. The assessment works as a standalone self-assessment or with up to 5 observers for multi-rater feedback. The self-assessment option is popular in classrooms and workshop settings.
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