When the future feels uncertain, it’s easy to assume employee motivation will decline. But new research from Wiley Workplace Intelligence suggests something different: motivation doesn’t necessarily disappear during uncertainty, it shifts.
In a survey of more than 1,300 people, Wiley found that employees continue to be motivated by opportunities to learn and improve, contributing to their team’s success, and knowing their work makes a difference.
One factor stood out in particular: 90% of employees say having control over how they work helps sustain their motivation.
The Role Leaders Play
Uncertainty itself isn’t necessarily what causes employees to disengage. How leaders respond to that uncertainty can make a significant difference.
When employees feel leadership is disconnected from their day-to-day experience, priorities change without explanation, or their extra effort goes unnoticed, motivation can quickly decline.
Creating alignment means more than communicating what’s changing. It means understanding your people, building trust, recognizing their contributions, and helping them see how their work connects to the bigger picture.
Where Does DiSC Fit In?
Everything DiSC® helps leaders better understand the people they lead, including what motivates them, how they prefer to communicate, and how they may respond differently to change and uncertainty.
With greater awareness of individual behavioral styles, leaders can adapt their approach rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all management style.
For teams, that shared understanding can strengthen communication, collaboration, and trust, helping people stay connected even when the path forward isn’t completely clear.
Read the full research from Wiley Workplace Intelligence →
Understand What Motivates the People You Lead
Everything DiSC® Management on Catalyst™ helps managers understand their own management style and recognize what different people need to feel motivated, supported, and successful.
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