We Work Harder When We Know Someone’s Watching

Workers who have switched to telecommuting have to contend with a host of distractions that might make sustaining motivation difficult. One surprising factor that can be a powerful drain on drive is a lack of other people watching you work. Social psychologists have known for decades that people are motivated to work harder when others are watching. When they are observed, people run faster, are more creative, and think harder about problems. These effects occur for several reasons. For one, people want to impress others through their performance, and thus try harder. Anyone who has ever stayed in the office late when their boss was still around experienced this phenomenon. However, the presence of others has a further and more fundamental effect on people: Not only does it affect what people do, but also how they think about their actions. When others are watching, people feel that what they do is magnified, which can then fuel their motivation. The authors recommend several steps remote workers can take to harness the motivating influence of observation.