In today’s fast-changing workplaces, achieving great work goes far beyond simply completing tasks. It’s about creating a culture where employees feel engaged, recognized, and driven by purpose. According to Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace Report, only 23% of employees feel engaged at work — yet those who are highly engaged are 18% more productive and 23% more profitable than their peers.
So, what drives great work in the modern world? Let’s explore the 10 most important drivers of employee engagement and performance — all backed by research, practical examples, and insights from leading HR experts.
Drivers for a great work
1. A clear purpose and direction
A well-defined purpose acts as the foundation of great work. Employees who understand their company’s vision, mission, and goals align their daily actions with organizational success.
A 2024 McKinsey study revealed that 70% of employees perform better when they see how their individual goals connect to the company’s overall direction. Leaders should clearly communicate not just what needs to be done, but why it matters.
Action Tip:
- Create transparent OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) for every role.
- Reinforce company purpose during town halls, project kickoffs, and recognition moments.
When people see meaning in their contributions, motivation follows naturally — and that’s the first driver of great work.
2. Empowering Employees to Share Perspectives
Empowerment begins with listening. Employees who feel heard are 4.6 times more likely to perform at their best (Forbes, 2024).
Encourage open communication channels such as:
- 360-degree feedback surveys
- BRAVO Voice (an AI-driven employee feedback tool)
- Town hall meetings and virtual open forums
By fostering psychological safety and two-way dialogue, companies build trust and collaboration. Leaders who invite employee perspectives often uncover innovation and solutions that management alone might overlook.
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Book a Free Demo3. Access to the Right Resources and Tools
Even the most motivated employees can’t perform well without proper tools. Ensuring access to up-to-date technology, learning resources, and clear workflows directly impacts productivity and morale.
Use internal communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and BRAVO Integration to streamline collaboration. Maintain transparent resource channels where employees can request what they need to succeed.
Stat Insight:
Teams with high digital enablement report 37% higher productivity (Deloitte, 2024).
4. Employee Wellness and Work-Life Balance
Employee wellness is no longer optional; it’s a business imperative. A company that invests in physical, mental, and emotional well-being sees stronger retention and engagement outcomes.
- Introduce flexible work policies and mental health support programs.
- Provide access to wellness challenges and team bonding activities through BRAVO Feats.
- Encourage digital detox breaks and manageable workloads.
Research-backed insight: According to SHRM (2024), organizations that prioritize wellness experience 25% lower turnover and 41% higher engagement.
5. Recognition and Appreciation
Recognition is one of the most powerful drivers of employee motivation. Humans crave acknowledgment, and the neuroscience of motivation shows that praise activates the same pleasure centers in the brain as monetary rewards.
Implement a consistent, data-driven recognition program like BRAVO’s Employee Recognition Program, where achievements are shared publicly and tied to meaningful rewards.
Example:
A simple “Thank you” message on BRAVO’s real-time recognition feed can spark peer appreciation, boost morale, and reinforce company culture.
Data Point:
Companies with strong recognition programs have 31% lower voluntary turnover (Gallup, 2024).
6. A Fun and Engaging Workplace Culture
Workplace engagement thrives in environments that balance professionalism with enjoyment. A fun, inclusive culture encourages creativity, collaboration, and loyalty.
Encourage gamified engagement activities, friendly challenges, and team-building events. Tools like BRAVO Feats help teams celebrate wins together — both small and large.
Why it matters:
Fun workplaces report 26% higher innovation output and significantly reduced absenteeism (LinkedIn Workplace Report, 2024).
Read: 10 Myths About Employee Motivation: Busted
7. Career Development and Continuous Learning
Career development is one of the strongest long-term engagement drivers. When employees grow, so does the company.
Offer access to internal learning portals, mentorship programs, and professional certifications. Use employee feedback systems like BRAVO Voice to understand development needs and customize learning paths.
Insight:
LinkedIn’s 2025 Workplace Learning Report found that 76% of employees stay longer at organizations that offer consistent skill development.
8. Encouraging Creativity and Passion
Innovation stems from creativity. Allowing employees to experiment, suggest ideas, and take calculated risks cultivates passion and ownership.
Companies that promote creative autonomy report 2.5x faster problem-solving rates (Gartner, 2024). Encourage idea boards, hackathons, and open innovation sessions to help employees express their potential.
Tip: Pair creativity with recognition — reward innovative ideas publicly through your employee engagement software.
9. Building Trust and Autonomy
Trust is a cornerstone of great work. Micromanagement destroys morale, while autonomy builds accountability and confidence.
Set clear expectations, then allow employees to choose how they deliver results. Transparency in communication and decision-making reinforces trust across teams.
Pro Insight:
Hybrid teams with strong mutual trust show 40% higher collaboration efficiency (Harvard Business Review, 2024).
When employees feel trusted, they reciprocate with ownership and integrity — the foundation of lasting engagement.
10. Meaningful Work and Impact
Meaning drives motivation. Employees who understand how their work contributes to a larger purpose are more likely to sustain effort, overcome challenges, and stay committed.
Show employees how their daily actions tie to the company’s mission or customer outcomes. Highlight impact stories in newsletters, dashboards, or team meetings.
Key Finding:
People motivated by purpose are 3x more likely to stay at their company (PwC Future of Work Survey, 2024).
Bottom-line
Achieving great work is not a one-time effort — it’s a continuous process driven by purpose, trust, recognition, and growth. When organizations invest in these 10 drivers, they create an environment where every employee performs at their best.
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FAQs
The key drivers include purpose, empowerment, wellness, recognition, career growth, trust, and meaningful impact. Together, these shape a high-performance work culture.
Recognition reinforces positive behavior and builds emotional connection. Platforms like BRAVO automate and personalize recognition for lasting engagement impact.
Use virtual recognition tools, flexible scheduling, and transparent communication platforms like BRAVO Integration to keep hybrid teams connected and motivated.
Purpose creates meaning. When employees understand how their work contributes to a bigger mission, motivation and loyalty increase dramatically.
