MOTIVATING VALUES
Align work with what people truly care about
The Motivating Values assessment uncovers the primary influences that drive action—the “why” behind behavior. Learn what each person values most, where tension shows up, and how to design roles, recognition, and communication that boost engagement and results.
THE CLOVERLEAF DIFFERENCE
Why use Motivating Values with Cloverleaf
Motivating Values explains why people initiate behavior (reason), which complements skills (how) and style (behavior). Cloverleaf turns those insights into everyday habits.
- Six value lenses — Knowledge, Economic Utility, Environment, Social, Power, Process.
- Poles, not boxes — Each motivator sits on a spectrum (e.g., Intellectual ↔ Instinctive).
- From insight to action — Coaching tips for motivators, stressors, and overuse patterns.
- Team visibility — See value diversity and overlap to plan work, recognition, and change.
Trusted by professionals worldwide
What the Motivating Values assessment measures
Motivating Values identifies the primary influences behind a person’s decisions and effort. Each motivator is plotted on a continuum—both ends carry value and signal different needs, stressors, and strengths. Results indicate why a person acts, not whether they are capable.
Knowledge
Intellectual ↔ Instinctive
Intellectual: Seeks logic, depth, and evidence; values research and structured reasoning.
Instinctive: Decides quickly, trusts experience and gut feel; prioritizes practical application.
Economic Utility
Resourceful ↔ Charitable
Resourceful: Optimizes time, money, and effort; focuses on ROI and measurable outcomes.
Charitable: Prioritizes contribution and service; values impact beyond material return.
Environment
Harmonious ↔ Objective
Harmonious: Values aesthetics, balance, and experience; seeks beauty and creative expression.
Objective: Prioritizes function and efficiency; evaluates by usefulness and results.
Social
Altruistic ↔ Intentional
Altruistic: Gives generously to help others thrive; guided by care and social good.
Intentional: Gives strategically; aligns help with goals and outcomes.
Power
Commanding ↔ Collaborative
Commanding: Seeks influence, recognition, and visible ownership.
Collaborative: Prefers influence through support and coalition; leads from behind the scenes.
Process
Structured ↔ Innovative
Structured: Guided by codes, standards, and consistency; values clear rules and reliability.
Innovative: Favors autonomy & experimentation; adapts systems to improve results.
Overuse and stress
Each motivator can be over‑applied (e.g., analysis tunnel‑vision, changing for change’s sake). Reports flag stressors and provide communication tips to keep motivators productive.
How to start using Motivating Values with Cloverleaf
STEP 1
Choose your path
Select the right product for your goals:
- Use Cloverleaf Assess to run Motivating Values, view individual profiles, and visualize team motivator patterns.
- Add Cloverleaf’s AI Coach to deliver context‑specific nudges tied to motivators in Slack, Teams, Gmail, and Outlook.
STEP 2
Schedule a consult
Talk with a Cloverleaf expert about applying Motivating Values to onboarding, recognition, role design, and change management.
STEP 3
Activate everyday behaviors
Use dashboards and coaching tips to align work, feedback, and rewards with what people value most.
Why Motivating Values matters for teams
Motivating Values gives leaders the levers to increase engagement and performance—by matching work and recognition to what genuinely matters to people. Leaders use Motivating Values to:
Design motivating roles & goals
Align responsibilities and KPIs to primary motivators.
Tailor recognition & rewards
Match praise, incentives, and visibility to individual values.
Prevent burnout
Spot stressors early and rebalance work before motivation dips.
Improve communication
Adjust framing (facts, impact, aesthetics, autonomy, etc.) to land messages.
Why focusing on innate drives creates lasting change
- Explains the “why” behind action—complements behavior (how) and skills (what).
- Spectrum model avoids labels; both poles carry value and distinct needs.
- In‑the‑flow reinforcement makes behavior change stick.
The psychology of needs and natural motivation
The model draws on decades of motivation research and philosophy (e.g., Maslow’s needs, Herzberg’s motivator/hygiene distinction, and Spranger’s six value types). Cloverleaf’s instrument operationalizes these ideas into a practical, workplace‑ready assessment with clear application guidance for leaders and teams.
How to apply Motivating Values with Cloverleaf
Onboarding & role design
Frequently asked questions
What is the Motivating Values assessment?
It reveals the values that most strongly influence a person’s decisions and effort across six motivators, explaining why they act—not whether they can.
Are the poles good or bad?
Neither. Each continuum has two valuable perspectives with different needs, stressors, and strengths. Overuse on either side can create blind spots; the report includes strategies to stay balanced.
How does this differ from personality or behavior tools?
Personality and behavior describe how someone shows up. Motivating Values explains why they initiate action, so leaders can align work, rewards, and communication more precisely.
Can we view team‑level patterns?
Yes. Cloverleaf visualizes motivator diversity and overlap so you can design meetings, roles, and recognition that resonate across the team.
Where do insights show up day‑to‑day?
Cloverleaf delivers coaching nudges inside Slack, Teams, Gmail, and Outlook, tailoring tips to each person’s motivators and context.
Is the Motivating Values assessment research‑backed?
Yes. It builds on longstanding motivation theories (e.g., Maslow, Herzberg, Spranger) and has been adapted for modern workplace application.
Go further with Motivating Values
Your results are just the beginning. Cloverleaf helps you put those insights to work—every day, with the people who matter most.
Start using Motivating Values in the flow of work
Your results show up in every meeting, decision, and email. Cloverleaf delivers coaching tied to your Motivating Values results—right inside Slack, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and more.
Bring Motivating Values to your team or org
From executive teams to enterprise rollouts, Cloverleaf integrates Motivating Values into platforms, dashboards, and learning experiences that drive engagement and performance.