| Maslow Level | Basic Human Need | Payoff |
| Purpose/Service | “I want my work to feel meaningful, like I’m doing something useful. I’m contributing and helping others.” | Motivation due to connection to a higher purpose, work is meaningful and benefits key stakeholders. |
| Mastery/Development | “I want chances to learn and develop. I want to feel progress. I want to be on a winning team.” | Team is engaged and becomes high performing. Talent is retained. Highest and best use is achieved. |
| Belonging/Connection | “I like being part of a team, I don’t want to be isolated, alone. It feels good to accomplish and succeed together.” | People are more engaged when on a team (4X) and even more when on a well-led team (8X). Teamwork raises morale. |
| Safety/Security | “I want to feel safe to be myself, to be real at work. I don’t waste time and energy pretending to be a certain way. I’m treated with respect.” | When workers feel safe, they will: Speak up, Challenge, Ask questions, Risk, Experiment (SCARE). |
Safety/Security
- Security: “I may lose my job” or “My savings may get wiped out.”
- Approval: “I may lose the friendship of a colleague” or “The client does not like me.”
- Control: “I can’t control my environment from distractions” or “I have no input on decisions that affect me.”
Belonging/Connection
Mastery / Development
Purpose / Service
Professional Learning for wealthytrails.com Members
