Why you keep showing up for work (hint: it's not because of the money)

Have you noticed that whenever you ask someone, "How are you doing?" the answer is always "Fine", or some variation of that? It's one of those automatic responses we all give, and all expect. You don't really give it that much thought. Workplace gurus and entrepreneurial consultants advise that the best answer is an enthusiastic "Fantastic!!" But, really, it's still the same automatic response. No one actually says how they're really doing (try it some time, just to see what happens).

If you ask people what they think motivates others to work, more often than not their response is automatic, too. They'll say, "money." Maybe they say that because it's what they've always heard, or maybe because they think it's what they're supposed to say. (Or, maybe they're hoping that saying so in front of the boss will land them a nice raise!) It's just one of those automatic responses. But, when pressed to think about it, most people know that money is a poor motivator.

Last month, the Canadian HR Reporter blog reported on research by PsychTests AIM Inc. (company news release), about what motivates people to do their best at work.

Here are the top five things that keep people motivated at work:

1. Being customer focused.
2. Having a challenging work environment in which you can achieve something meaningful.
3. Being able to inspire others.
4. Working in a company or field that provides identity and purpose.
5. Having fun, working in a position or corporate culture that is entertaining.

Number one on that list above is what strikes me as interesting, not because people think customer focus is important, but that it's more important than all the other motivators. That really shouldn't come as a surprise. Helping someone else achieve their goal is at the heart of a lot of human motivation. When you look at it that way, you see that value in all five of the motivators above: working toward a common purpose makes people feel like they are achieving something meaningful.

That doesn't mean money isn't important. It may not motivate people to do better, but poor compensation certainly motivates people to leave a job.