Mindset Mondays: Self-Determination Theory

Psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan spent decades studying a simple question: What makes people want to do something — not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to?

Their answer became Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which says people are most motivated and engaged when three basic psychological needs are met: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Autonomy means having some ownership over what you do and how you do it. You don't have to control everything, but you need to feel like you have a choice.

Competence means feeling like you're getting better. Progress matters. When you see yourself improving, you're more likely to stay engaged.

Relatedness means feeling connected to other people. We want to know that we matter, that we belong, and that we're part of something bigger than ourselves.

Think about the best teams you've been on. You probably had some ownership, you were getting better, and you felt connected to the people around you.

That's not an accident.

If you want to build motivation — in yourself or someone else — don't just ask, "How do I get them to work harder?"

Ask: "How can I give them ownership, help them grow, and make sure they know they belong?"

Motivation isn't always something you have to create. Sometimes, you just have to create the conditions where it can grow.