Challenge
When employees say, “I am not excited about the work I do every day,” it points to a loss of connection between their role and their sense of purpose.
While not every task will be thrilling, employees should still feel inspired by their work, motivated by their contributions, and connected to something greater than a checklist. When excitement fades, it often leads to disengagement, lower performance, and eventually, quiet quitting or departure.
The issue isn’t usually about the work itself. It’s about how well the work is aligned with someone’s strengths, values, and goals. When that alignment is missing, it can feel like going through the motions rather than growing in a meaningful way.
Solution
Helping employees rekindle excitement starts with understanding what energizes them. That means taking time to explore their natural strengths, motivations, and aspirations—and then finding ways to bring more of that into their day-to-day work.
Here are three ways to help employees feel reconnected to their work:
- Align Work With Strengths and Passions: Use behavioral insights and team design tools to ensure employees are in roles that reflect their talents and what they enjoy most. Even small shifts in responsibilities can have a big impact when work feels more aligned with personal energy and purpose.
- Bring Purpose Into Focus: Help employees see how their work contributes to team goals, organizational values, and community impact. People are more excited when they know their efforts matter beyond their to-do list.
- Keep Growth Opportunities in View: Feeling stagnant often causes motivation to drop. Offer meaningful challenges, learning opportunities, and stretch assignments that allow employees to grow in ways that excite them. This reignites curiosity and forward momentum.
Actions
To reawaken energy and engagement in your team, try these practical steps:
- Leverage Strengths-Based Tools: Visit our C3 Tools page to explore behavioral assessments and team alignment resources. These tools help leaders understand what excites each team member and how to better align roles to that insight.
- Have Energy Check-Ins: Use regular 1:1s to ask not just how things are going, but what parts of the work feel energizing or draining. Use that insight to make simple adjustments that reignite motivation and connection.
- Apply the SOAR C3 Team Meetings Framework: Use the SOAR C3 Team Meetings Framework to create time for team members to share what they’re proud of, what inspired them recently, or what part of a project sparked their interest. These moments can spark shared enthusiasm and creativity.
- Offer Microbursts of Development: Not every growth opportunity needs to be a big leap. Give employees chances to lead a portion of a meeting, experiment with a new tool, or contribute to a different team’s project. These “mini-stretch” opportunities can bring fresh energy and momentum.
- Celebrate Progress and Impact: Recognition should go beyond task completion. Highlight how someone’s effort contributed to a team win, solved a problem, or made someone else’s job easier. Connecting results to purpose increases fulfillment and excitement.
Conclusion
Work becomes energizing when it’s meaningful, aligned, and full of growth. When leaders create space for passion, purpose, and progress, employees show up with renewed commitment and drive.
Helping people reconnect with what excites them is not just a perk—it is a leadership priority. It reflects the heart of our C3 Framework, which supports compassionate, cohesive, and collaborative workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
To explore the tools and resources that can help your team find renewed excitement in their work, visit our C3 Tools page.
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