MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Need Motivation at Work? Try Giving Advice

Research shows that giving advice, rather than receiving it, is key for motivation.

At companies such as IBM and Motorola, mentorship and executive coaching are now standard parts of leadership development programs. People seeking wisdom from mentors is common not only in business, but in all facets of life.

But what if advice seekers are overlooking what they truly need? Psychologists have long known that people stumble on one particular class of problems, self-control problems, because they lack the motivation to transform knowledge into action.

About the Author

Lauren Eskreis-Winkler is a postdoc at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, studying motivation and achievement. Ayelet Fishbach is a professor of behavioral science and marketing at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, studying motivation and decision-making.

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