Motivation Archives

What I have learnt after almost 30 years as a public servant

Career Advice

Canadian public servant Debra Churchill on what helped her maintain motivation at work and some tips for those starting their career in government.

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Insights and analysis

What public servants pocket in pay matters, but that’s only half the story

By Melissa Coade

Careers

New workplace research suggests the federal government will have to cough up more dough to hire the best of the best.

‘Nudging’ can influence you to do better but it can also backfire

By Grace Lee Hooi Yean

Editors' Picks

You can ‘nudge’ someone to take up new activities, but unless they truly believe in its value, they won’t keep it up.

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Insights and analysis

Can your department flick the switch on motivational intelligence?

By Melissa Coade

Editors' Picks

Motivational intelligence trumps IQ to guarantee organisational success and better collaborative outcomes, says cultural change expert David Naylor.

What motivates public servants? Core goals steady but expectations shift

By Jackson Graham

Federal

Employment conditions, career opportunities, and aligning skills and experience with what job seekers find worthwhile remain top reasons people join the public service.

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Insights and analysis

Unpacking the drivers of why so many public sector professionals make unwise career decisions

By Sue Parker

Career Matters

There are no guarantees in careers and job choices. Minimising unwise choices and maximising wise decisions requires taking stock of your true motivations.

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Expert briefings

Confidence doesn’t always boost performance; why being realistic about your prospects matters more

By Gardiner Morse

Career Advice

Sometimes performing well means bringing delusions of grandeur down to earth; sometimes it means increasing your confidence so that it more accurately reflects your potential.

Enabling innovation and collaboration across the public sector

By Pia Andrews

Editors' Picks

Arguably, it’s not the job of a citizen to understand the complexities of government, but rather the job of government is to do the hard work to abstract the complexities of governance for better engagement and services for citizens. If you’re not collaborating and working across governments in whatever you are doing, then you’re not likely getting the best possible outcomes for citizens in the most efficient way.

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Insights and analysis

What’s the most effective way to motivate staff? Performance pay schemes are trending again, but Allan Hawke saw distorted results

By Allan Hawke

Australian Capital Territory

Allan Hawke is aware of the argument that performance pay is supposed to work in organisations where rewards constitute a significant part of total remuneration, judgments about performance are based on things under the direct control of the individual being assessed, and people are satisfied that the assessments and mechanisms used are fair and reasonable. And, he’s ‘absolutely certain’ none of those preconditions can be assured of in the APS.

Want to lead self-motivated employees?

By Gavin R. Slemp and Lara H. Mossman

Career Advice

University of Melbourne research has shown how leaders can support employees to work more autonomously, creating a happier and more productive workplace.

Why organisation leaders need to embrace fear

By Mariano L.M. Heyden Mathew Hayward

Editors' Picks

CEOs who acknowledge and act upon vulnerability and fear are most likely to appear authentic. Acknowledging that we are works in progress, allows for others to relate to us and support us.

Top tips for motivating staff from Daniel Pink

By Eloise Keating

Career Advice

The organisations that succeed in their mission will be the ones that fundamentally shift the way they think about motivating their employees, according to best-selling author and speaker Daniel Pink.

Motivation