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TED Talks Daily

A simple way to inspire your team | David Burkus

Oct 27, 2023
David Burkus, a management researcher known for his insights on team inspiration, discusses how companies often miss the mark with conventional motivation tactics. He argues that the key to boosting morale lies in powerful storytelling and personal connections. Burkus shares examples like KPMG's 'We Shape History' campaign to demonstrate how embedding purpose into corporate culture can transform employee engagement. By focusing on individual stories and real impacts, he reveals a path to creating a more inspired and motivated workplace.
11:14

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Focusing on the 'who' served by their work, rather than the 'why', can tap into the power of pro-social motivation and increase morale and engagement.
  • Leaders should become Chief Storytelling Officers, telling stories of individuals whose lives have been positively transformed by the work of their team to inspire and motivate.

Deep dives

Putting Purpose at the Core of Engagement Efforts

KPMG, an accounting firm, aimed to improve morale and engagement among its employees. Traditional approaches like perks and pay increases had limited impact in a boring and thankless job like auditing. To ignite motivation, KPMG launched the We Shape History Campaign, telling stories of how the firm contributed to pivotal moments in history. These stories showcased a higher purpose behind their work. This bold move moved the needle slightly. The next step was to focus on the question of 'who' is served by their work, rather than 'why' they do it. KPMG initiated the 10,000 Stories Challenge, encouraging employees to share how they were making a difference. Capturing individual stories and recognizing the impact they had on specific people massively increased morale and engagement in the company.

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