- MIT researchers conducted a fascinating experiment using LEGO building tasks to demonstrate the power o
f purpose. They paid people to create LEGO models under two conditions:
1️⃣ Meaningful: Completed LEGOs accumulated on the desk as visible progress.
2️⃣ “Sisyphus”: Each LEGO was immediately disassembled after completion.
Same task and same pay for both groups, but leading to radically different results.
Workers in the meaningful condition built 47% more LEGOs than those in the pointless condition. What was even more striking was when work felt to be meaningful, people’s skills and productivity mattered more. As a result, they became more engaged and invested in quality.
The Lesson for Driving Change
People don’t just need to understand WHAT they’re doing – they need to see WHY it matters. Even the smallest sense of purpose can dramatically increase:
- Willingness to contribute extra effort
- Engagement with the quality and productivity of work
- Resilience through challenges
What to Ask Before your Next Change Initiative
Ahead of your next significant organisational change thinks about leveraging the power of purpose. Ask:
- Can people see how their work connects to the bigger picture?
- Do they understand the meaningful impact of their contributions?
- Are you accidentally creating “Sisyphus moments” that drain motivation?
Recognition and purpose aren’t expensive perks, they’re fundamental drivers of human motivation.
In a world of constant change, the organizations that help people find meaning in their work will be the ones that succeed.
What’s one way you’ve helped your team connect their daily work to a larger purpose?
Source: Man’s search for meaning: the case of Legos Dan Ariely et al
