Dan Pink's 2009 bestseller on human motivation got it wrong. Or at least it missed a very important piece of the motivation jigsaw.

Drawing on over 40 years of academic research into Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the leading Theory of Motivation in psychology, this talk aims to give a fuller picture of the drivers of engagement.

The original paper on SDT was written by Professors Richard Ryan and Edward Deci in 1985. Since then over 40 books, hundreds of PhDs and thousands of research hours have validated the theory in numerous settings, across many cultures and in many different types of organisations. In fact, SDT is the main theoretical base that Pink draws upon for his bestselling book ‘Drive’. It’s ironic that while Pink’s bestseller is by far the most widely read book on SDT, it’s also potentially the most incomplete, highlighting a common disconnect between Popular Psychology and the underlying academic research.

Having worked directly with Professor Ryan, one of the fathers of SDT and who still today spearheads the worldwide SDT movement, Mihall O Curraoin also draws on his own academic background in Psychology, his work as an Executive Coach, as well as over 20 years’ experience coaching and working in Agile teams to bring this important theoretical approach to life for an IT audience. Expect lots of practical, evidence based tips and tricks on how to motivate yourself and your teams!

On a deeper level, the talk links SDT with core Agile principles and practices. This allows a better understanding of exactly WHY Agile works so well. In particular, the talk highlights why the principles and values (i.e. being Agile) are more important than the practices (i.e. doing Agile). The talk also provides scientific data to help secure that all-important Senior Executive buy-in for running larger-scale Agile initiatives in organisations.

Change or die. That’s the choice that doctors give at-risk heart patients. Increasingly, due to digital disruption, it’s also the choice facing many of our organisations. Research indicates that only one in seven heart patients is able to make the necessary life-style changes, even in the face of the ultimate threat. Evidence suggests our organisations may be similarly ‘immune to change’. As technology coaches and leaders, how can we help our people and organisations change to stay competitive in a complex and continuously disrupted world?

Based on work by Harvard professors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey, this coaching workshop takes a practical, canvas-based approach to uncovering and addressing the hidden causes that often block change for our people and organisations. Using a 4-step process and a peer coaching approach, participants will have the opportunity to work on an important work or life goal they have not yet achieved, so that they begin to understand from the inside how hidden blockers can impact change .