• 08 Sep 2022

The Achievement Goal Theory can help improve your motivation

Achievement Goal Theory (AGT) is one of the most popular theoretical frameworks in motivation research. According to it, individuals operate rationally, and the adopted achievement goal guides future achievement decisions and behaviors. A critical concept is "ability", as the theory also postulates that an individual's achievement goals will depend on the most prominent view of ability in that specific situation. Abilities are categorized as ego involved, where success is defined as the demonstration of superiority over others, and task involved, in which the goal is to achieve something adequately for its own sake rather than to demonstrate capability.

Generally, being task-oriented is associated with creating a more positive experience for an individual who is, in turn, motivated to perform better, displaying a collaborative approach, and is more eager to get involved with their environment. Being ego-oriented, instead, might lead to higher frustration, low self-esteem, and a tendency to withdraw from a situation more quickly. 

Suppose we apply the above to a business context. In that case, task-involved employees might be better team players, willing to invest their time and energy into the company because they perceive it as a learning-oriented environment assisting them in their personal and professional growth. Instead, ego-involved workers might struggle to perform adequately because they perceive the work environment as competitive and can only be satisfied if they outperform others. This type of orientation can lead to decreased productivity under unfavorable conditions and doesn't promote a collaborative atmosphere. 

Similarly, task-oriented leaders can foster motivation and productivity by promoting a healthier environment in which the team is encouraged to collaborate with others and focus on improving their skills rather than proving them to be better than someone else - an attitude enabled by ego-oriented leaders. 

So, what are you waiting for? Organize workshops and incentives to create task-involved conditions that can skyrocket your team's motivation! 

 

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