Checklist: Identify an Employee’s Motivation with the Motivation Wheel

Introduction

This checklist is designed to help managers identify what drives their employees by assessing six core motivators: Autonomy, Belonging, Purpose, Growth, Recognition, and Security. By understanding an employee’s motivators, managers can tailor their leadership approach to enhance engagement, satisfaction, and productivity.

Use this tool during one-on-one conversations or observations. Ask open-ended questions for each motivator, score responses to identify trends, and summarize findings to inform your management strategy.

Instructions

1. During a conversation, ask open-ended questions for each motivator or observe the employee’s behavior.
2. Use the checklist below and rate each question on a scale of 1–5:
   • 1 = Rarely or never observed.
   • 3 = Sometimes observed.
   • 5 = Always or almost always observed.
3. After completing the checklist, summarize the employee’s strongest motivators to guide future actions.

Summary Section

After completing the checklist, use this section to summarize findings and highlight the employee’s key motivators: