Beyond the Bare Minimum...
How Leaders Can Inspire Discretionary Effort 🚀
Have you noticed how some employees come to work bringing their best to work and others are determined to even cancel all the great work others have done?
Have you noticed how some team members do just enough to get by, while others go above and beyond—not because they have to, but because they want to?
That extra effort—the energy, creativity, and commitment that isn’t required but is willingly given—is called discretionary effort. And guess what? It’s a game-changer.
Discretionary effort is what turns good teams into great ones. It’s what fuels innovation, deepens engagement, and transforms workplaces from "have to" into "want to."
But here’s the catch: it can’t be forced.
So, how do leaders cultivate a culture where people willingly bring their best?
Here are five powerful ways to unlock discretionary effort in your team:
1️⃣ Give People a "Why" That Matters
🔥 Passion follows purpose. If people don’t see the bigger picture, they won’t go beyond the checklist.
✔ Show them the impact of their work.
✔ Connect daily tasks to a higher purpose.
✔ Involve them in shaping the vision, not just executing it.
💡 People don’t burn out because of hard work; they burn out because they don’t see meaning in their work.
2️⃣ Empower, Don’t Micromanage
🚫 Micromanagement kills motivation. If people feel like robots following orders, they’ll never push beyond the basics.
✔ Give ownership over tasks and decisions.
✔ Trust your team to innovate and experiment.
✔ Create a safe space for failure—because people give more when they know they won’t be punished for trying.
People work harder for leaders who trust them.
3️⃣ Recognize & Reward the Right Things
👏🏽 Recognition is the simplest performance booster—but only if it’s done right.
✔ Reward effort and initiative, not just results.
✔ Make recognition specific and personal ("Your solution improved our process by 30%!" vs. "Good job.").
✔ Celebrate small wins—because big wins are built on them.
💡 What gets recognized gets repeated.
4️⃣ Create a Culture of Growth
📈 People give more when they feel like they’re growing. If their job feels like a dead end, they’ll only do the bare minimum.
✔ Invest in professional development—courses, mentoring, stretch assignments.
✔ Encourage cross-functional learning—help them see beyond their immediate roles.
✔ Ask: "What skills do you want to develop?"—then create space for that growth.
When people see a future with you, they invest more in the present.
5️⃣ Make Work Fun & Human
😅 People don’t give their best when they’re stressed, disengaged, or disconnected. Culture matters.
✔ Foster genuine relationships—people work harder for teams they care about.
✔ Encourage laughter, creativity, and fun.
✔ Lead with empathy—because when people feel seen and valued, they naturally give more.
💡 When work feels good, effort follows naturally.
Final Thought: You Don’t Demand Discretionary Effort—You Inspire It.
People don’t give extra effort for titles, policies, or corporate posters. They give it for leaders who inspire, trust, and invest in them.
🔹 Want more from your team? Give them more reasons to care.
🔹 Want higher commitment? Create deeper connection.
🔹 Want extra effort? Build a culture where it happens naturally.
What’s one strategy you use to inspire your team to go above and beyond? Let’s exchange ideas! 👇🏽
Love and Light
Dr. Abimbola Ogundere
#Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #HighPerformanceTeams #Motivation #Teamwork 🚀