I am a Professor in the Human Resource Management (HRM) Department at Rutgers University. This semester we are hiring a new assistant professor and have been interviewing many gifted candidates over the past few months. During interviews, a few candidates have asked me what I like the most about our department. Without pause, I've answered “The people: I count many of my colleagues among my closest friends. We celebrate each others' successes, help each other, and respect each other. Some of us spend time together socially -- even vacationing together."

The photo is a great example of friends celebrating friends: My colleagues (Joseph Blasi and Patrick McKay) and I are at our promotion party which was hosted by another friend and colleague (Mark Huselid).

If I look back to career-related decisions, even back when I was working at the tuxedo rental shop, the greatest motivational pushes and pulls have been around working with people I sincerely like and respect. This is my work motivator and this is the aspect of my job at Rutgers for which I am most thankful.

For which aspect of your job are you most thankful? The paycheck? Flexible hours? The tuition reimbursement program? The new on-site gym? Anything at all?

In this area of work motivators, Dr. David McClelland’s work (originating in the 1960s) may be helpful, in part, interpret your answer. McClelland believes that we each have varying degrees of three primary needs: achievement, affiliation, and power. These needs are shaped through our earlier lives and are relatively stable across situations.

• If you said you are most thankful for the challenge of your job, your new promotion, professional accomplishments, or the opportunities to learn and develop, then you may have a high need for achievement. If you have a need for achievement, you do not give up easily and will work very hard to achieve your goals. You thrive in competitive situations and will enjoy outperforming your coworkers if it means that you can distinguish yourself (and be promoted). You readily assume additional responsibilities when they allow you to demonstrate your achievements.
• If you said you were most thankful for your friendships at work or the pride you feel in being a part of an excellent team, then you may have a high need for affiliation. If you have a need for affiliation, you actively participate in social activities and enjoy being liked and considered as an important member in a group. You enjoy working with friends and are motivated by working with others. You tend to accept people readily and initiate, participate in and facilitate social events in the workplace.
• If you said you were most thankful for your staff and those who work for you or your opportunity to make an impact in your organization, then you may have a high need for power. If you have a need for power, you are highly motivated by opportunities to lead others and have influence. You tend to have a strong desire to take control, influence decisions, and direct the work of other people. You may seek out opportunities for leadership roles and assume them very naturally.

Do any of these seem to apply to you – and sound like the things that motivate you at work? What if none of these resonated? It could be that what you named has more to do with your work values or how you like to work (e.g., if you were thankful for the new gym would logically suggest that you value your physical well-being).

Whether through understanding your need-based motivators or personal values, over time, try to enhance your career through a better alignment with them. Through a better alignment with your needs and values, by next Thanksgiving you will have an even greater number of aspects of your jobs for which you will be thankful.

As we enter Thanksgiving week – with an attitude of gratitude – we can use this time for self-reflection on what we appreciate at work to help us uncover what motivates us. Self-awareness is, after all, the secret to a fulfilling career.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Paula