Melissa Voderberg Significantly increase engagement in your UX workshops by applying Self Determination Theory

We’ve all been there. Finally, the decision-makers are on board and in the room to participate in a high-powered workshop. Energetically, you explain the agenda, go over general housekeeping, and move onto the first activity. Instead of enthusiasm, you’re met with blank stares and a room full of folded arms. Tumbleweeds blow and crickets chirp.

One of the biggest challenges with running UX workshops getting attendees to participate in design activities. How do we motivate people to buckle down and contribute during our small amount of time together?

What drives us to participate? What intrinsically pushes us to want to engage in a task? For over forty years, Dr. Edward Deci and Dr. Richard Ryan have worked with hundreds of psychologists and behavioural specialists to develop Self Determination Theory, the theory of human motivation. Motivation is described by Deci as, “Doing an activity with a sense of interest, enjoyment, and value” (Ryan & Deci, 2017, p. 36). Self Determination Theory identifies three universal human needs that must be met for motivation to occur. These needs are autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2017; Wehmeyer & Shogren, 2017).

About a year ago I started applying Self Determination Theory to the planning and facilitation of my workshops. I’ve noticed three improvements:

Attendees achieved deeper levels of synthesis
More ‘heads-down’ task engagement
Increased teamwork
This talk will explain how to apply Self Determination Theory’s universal human needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—to a workshop setting. Viewers will receive practical tips to improve workshop planning and facilitation.

Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. New York: Guilford Publishing
Wehmeyer, M., Shogren, K. (2017). Development of self-determination through the life-course. Springer: London.10.1007/978-94-024-1042-6.

Transcript

1. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
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   Ca i ed b : Ke ie C ke
   

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2. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 49
   h, like i h i e.
   STEVE BATY: I ha e a I'm a fa f i e.
   ANDY HEALEY: H ca be?
   STEVE BATY: I'm j . I'm j g i g h ha he e. The e'
   a c le f e i c mi g h gh i he Q&A a el hich e'll
   e i he cha f ake a l k a . A d ha k e m ch. Tha
   a a e me a d e'll ge Meli a. Tha k , A d . A d ' i Ca ada
   he ca ' ge a a i h liki g i e b a a A alia h j
   i i Ca ada cca i all , I ca like i . The e g .
   O e eake i Meli a V de be g. Meli a' g i g be
   ackli g a ic ha f m a e ig ifica a f ac ice hich i
   ge i g m e e gageme i k h . Hell , Meli a. Tha k f
   j i i g . I ca ' ee hea a he m me . Wai i g, ai i g.
   Hell .
   MELISSA VODERBERG: Hi, S e e, h a e ?
   STEVE BATY: Ve ell. Tha k f j i i g .
   MELISSA VODERBERG: Tha k f ha i g me.
   STEVE BATY: I ill ha d e . Tha k .
   MELISSA VODERBERG: The ca a d he ick. Ge hem d i b
   make hem hi k i ' hei idea. Gi e b e he 10% a d fi e he
   b m 10%. Wh k ha I'm alki g ab ? I'm alki g ab
   

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3. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 50
   adi i al f m f m i a i .
   F e 40 ea , D Ed a d Deci a d D Richa d R a ha e
   dedica ed ba icall hei e i e ca ee e ea chi g m i a i a d
   be e de a d ha d i e e gage. The ' e ked i h
   h d ed f ch l gi , f m all e he ld, a d he ' e f d
   e' e bee d i g i all g.
   I m alk da , I ill gi e a e ie f elf-de e mi a i
   he , a l i he de ig a d facili a i f UX k h , a d ha e
   a ca e d f he he i ac ice.
   O e he la e ea , I' e e 50 k h i h a a ge f
   a ici a f m ge , e le ggli g i h h mele e ,
   fa me , a ke , C-le el e ec i e , e e e le h
   died di f a li i g. Wha I' e lea ed i i d e ' ma e h ell
   la age da, h ama i g ac i i ie a e, if ' e
   able m i a e e le a ici a e i e i , ' ge
   ha eed f m he e ea ch.
   Si ce a l i g elf-de e mi a i he m k h , I' e
   iced a e dee a e m e c ea i e i hei hi ki g, k ick
   blem f l ge e i d f ime, a d k be e i a c he i e a .
   Bef e e ge elf-de e mi a i he , I eed di i g i h
   be ee e i ic a d i i ic m i a i . E i ic m i a i i he
   e le d me hi g f a e a d a id i hme , he ca
   he ick. I ' ba ed he im li ic belief ha h ma ill eek lea e
   a d a id ai . I ' he m c mm me h d ed m i a e e le,
   me hi g e f e ee i e f ma ce-i ce i e g am .
   I c a , i h i i ic m i a i , e le d a ac i i f he
   ac f e j me , he e le a e i i icall m i a ed he a e m e
   c ea i e, be e a l i g blem a d hei em i a e m ch m e
   i i e. The e a e e ac l he e f beha i e a f e i
   

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4. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 51
   k h .
   Ba ed he e ide ce, f m h d ed f e e ime , D Deci a d
   D R a ec mme d i i ic m i a i a he be a m i a e a d
   e gage e le. I Je ' ke e e e da , he ched h i i ic
   al e m e be e ellbei g. Self-de e mi a i he i he he
   f ac i a i g i i ic m i a i .
   S , h d e m i a e e le i h he e f m e , e ,
   a d a ? Wha ' i hi ec e a ce?
   Well, he g d e i facili a e i i ic m i a i , h gh
   elf-de e mi a i he , e j eed c ea e a e i me he e
   h ee hi g ca ha e - a m , c m e e ce a d ela ed e . F
   a m , e eed make e e le k h d me hi g a d
   ca d i i h e i i g hel . F c m e e ce, he eed k he
   a e effec i e i ha he ' e d i g, he eed k I ca d hi ell.
   F ela ed e , i eed be clea h he a k i c ec ed hem
   a d ha hi c ec i h ld al e f hem.
   P babl ma f a e familia i h elf-de e mi a i he
   b f h e f h a e ' , I'll ickl a l i a e am le
   H d feel he ee hi image? H ma f ee i
   a d dde l feel i e e a d m i a i la e f he e game ?
   A e ee i a d feel hi g? I fi i he ec d ca eg . M ch he
   di a i me f m a e a d f ie d , I' e e e bee m i a ed
   la ide game . O e he ea , he ' e ied e f diffe e game
   e gage me. Thi e ha g ea elli g, hi e ha bea if l
   g a hic , ill l e he m ic i hi e, a d each ime I feel e ible.
   I'm like I'm j i ed ha a . I d ' a i a d I d ' a
   la . I'm m i a ed la ide game .
   Le ' a l elf-de e mi a i he he i a i a d a l i
   like a check li . If he he k I ill be m i a ed la a ide
   

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5. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 52
   game. The fi h ma eed i a m , ma be he ea I'm kee
   game , he ' e ick a d I d ' de a d hem. I ied a im le
   game, P g. I'm d a I ca la P g i h hel b i a '
   e gh. I a ' m i a ed la .
   Ne i c m e e ce, , I'll eed feel like I'm g d a a game. I
   la ed M Pacma he I a ge , I ac i ed m e a d fel
   c fide i m abili . B I ill fel em i ide. I a ' m i a ed
   la . The hi d h ma eed i ela ed e . Well, hi i he e hi g
   a ed ge i e e i g. M f ie d h ed me A imal C i g a d
   e lai ed i me. I a able d i b m elf, a m , I g be e
   a i a d ga e me i i e ei f ceme , c m e e ce, he he
   i d ced me f ie d h e e al la i g he game. Thi a he
   mi i g li k - c ec ed e .
   I he a , all he game I la ed e e j me e machi e.
   Wi h A imal C i g, bei g able i i he e le' i la d a d
   e gage i h f ie d made i me hi g I ac all a ed la .
   I'm g i g ake h gh m ec mme da i f h
   ca a l elf-de e mi a i he UX k h .
   Ab a ea ag I a a k h i h a e e g c m a h
   a l ki g a im i g he ce f ecei i g g d i hei
   a eh e . I a ld I'd ha e a a eh e ke i he k h
   I a c fide e'd be able ma he c e a e ce i he
   e i . Wi h m k ledge, he c m a decided a he la mi e
   ha l he ma age f he a eh e ke h ld a e d he
   k h . Thi c ea ed a blem a he ma age did ' k he
   de ail f he ecei i g ce . A ca babl e ec , he
   ma age bega di e gage, he did ' a ge i g, h
   h li le he k e ab ha hei eam did. T e le a ed
   checki g email a d he he bega alk am g hem el e .
   

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6. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 53
   I de f e le be a m , he eed k ha
   d . The e ime I did hi e f k h , I e a e k ack
   i h di c i e i a d a ce fl em la e. Thi ga e hem a
   head i he aim f he k h , he had a cha ce a k hei
   eam ab he ce ahead f ime. Thi ime he k e ha d ,
   he came e a ed, a d e e m i a ed a d e gaged h gh he
   e i .
   Sa i , i e i , d i . We all lea a d ab b i f ma i i
   diffe e a a d i ' im a be i cl i e he gi e di ec i
   f a a k. I a k h I did i h a ag ic l e clie , he a e dee
   e e a ked i e d hei ai i i h a a ic la ce .
   The , e e a ked lace hei i a F me e . I d e a
   he m me e a hi e b a d a d hei m f a i g i a he
   a d he lea f a i g a he b m. We'd f c e e hi g i he
   ec i . I'd ed hi i al me h d l f ime hel e le
   i i i e hei ai i . The e a e e h a '
   a ici a i g. He had m ed he c e f he m a d a l ki g
   hi h e.
   Whe I checked i him he aid he did ' de a d h he
   ai i e e ela ed . I eali ed he h gh I had aid
   T me e i ead f F me e . Thi h ed me h c cial i i
   i e e e hi g he i e b a d i al b a d, e eciall he e
   ge e l familia i h me h d a d f ge e le a e eei g i f
   he fi ime.
   Thi e e ide me f he be i igh f he
   e i e g a d I alm l him e he mi de a di g f e
   d.
   O e f he bigge ea e le l e m i a i i he a e '
   e ha e a e a ki g hem d .
   

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7. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 54
   I eall e j i g li e k h , babl a l f ha e
   ed Mi b f h e h ha e ' i ' a li e k h la f m i
   eal ime ca c llab a e ge he . P babl a l f e le a e
   l ki g a he Mi b a d f m hi c fe e ce.
   I m fi Mi k h I e lai ed h he f a e ked
   he e le i m e i a d he e e i he e e ci e . N b d
   ed he l. The j di c ed hile I madl d c me ed hei
   c mme -i . Af e he e i , I eali ed e e h gh I
   e lai ed h i ked i a ' g d e gh a d e le e e '
   m i a ed a ici a e.
   F m e k h , I la ed a k h ha d bled a a
   iceb eake . I a ked hem ha ' he be hi g ab ki g a h me.
   The eeded d ag he i a d cha ge he c l . B a ki g a
   e e e i made a diffe e ce i c ib i la e . The fel
   c mf able i g he i make c mme a d e e ime ed i h
   he he l .
   C m e e ce. I ' g ea gi e e bal feedback b b idi g
   i e feedback, if me e mi e ha a i emai i ible. I like
   d c me e a e g a d hi ide eal ime e al a i a d
   a ici a a e d i g he a k ell.
   A he a i il c m e e ce i ch e d ha e c age
   fl , i ead f hal i g g e . Whe he ime f a a k i alm , I
   a "Wh ' ead m e ?" I ead f "Wh ill eed m e ime?"
   A d ca im l ha k ha ' bee c m le ed a ia el .
   T acki g k h mile e hel ei f ce c m e e c . O ce
   e c m le e a k h ac i i , I ick i ff he age da a d highligh
   i di id al c ib i f m he eam . I fi d i al acki g hel he
   c fide ce f he g .
   Bef e he k h , I ge i c ac i h he jec
   

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8. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 55
   lea a bi m e ab he a e dee . I make a chea hee ha a
   hi g like S e ha ked i he c m a f 20 ea , k
   e e hi g ab c me c m lai . Thi mea ha I ca di ec
   e i he a ia e e a d ack ledge hei e e i e.
   I ead f a i g "Ca a e ha e h c me migh be f a ed
   i h he em? A e? A e?", hich ca lead adi ile ce,
   e eciall i em e k h , i ead I ill a me hi g like "S e,
   ba ed e e ie ce i h feedback e , ca ha e h
   hi k c me a e f a ed i h hi em?" I ' a ld cla m
   ech i e, i eall k d a e le i b i g hei ame. N l
   d e hi highligh he c m e e ce f he a e dee b i kee e le
   hei e a he hi k he ma be e be called .
   I f d ha b eaki g e e e i eam a he begi i g f he
   k h ca make a ig ifica diffe e ce he fi al . Bei g a
   f a eam ca e g he he ela i hi i he e i , e eciall if
   ha e a ici a f m diffe e le el f he b i e , like field ke
   a d e ec i e i he ame e i . Al , ge lea a bi ab he
   ga i a i al c l e a d he a ce f he c m a i d he
   he g h gh he ce f ch i g a ame, m , a d eam i al.
   I he ime he I ha e ' c ea ed eam , I f d e le a e m e likel
   check email ake call d i g he k h . U i g eam im e
   e al acc abili a d m i a i a ici a e.
   A h ma , e a e i ed f c ec i a d e di c e me hi g
   e , e a ha e lea i g . B a i g af e each de ig
   ac i i , la back he fi di g , eam a e able check i i h each
   he , e ie hei g e , a d ma ime , beca e e' e i A alia,
   make a j ke. I ca be diffic l me ime all ca e ime f la back
   af e e e ac i i b I' e al a ecei ed i i e feedback ha
   la back a e a al able c m e f he k h .
   

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9. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
   i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
   c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
   Page 56
   A fe ea ag , I a a k h i h a g f e gi ee a d
   jec ma age . I ca ' a ha he e ac jec a b I ca a i
   i l ed a em i Melb e ha a e le de he g d.
   I eeded de a d he i e ela i hi be ee he a i e
   g a ell a d c me he m i a i a d eed f he g . I
   a i g Leg mi i fig e e e e all he diffe e e a d e
   e e ki g ac big able . The m e i membe f he
   ki g a ke i g i a d f he k h a d a '
   i l ed i he di c i . A e i he aid, "I'm e h ' e
   all me i g a d i h ."
   Thi c ea ed a feeli g f di a d he ce . The
   a ici a a ed di e gage. The did ' a be ee a d i g
   me hi g ha a ' ele a . I eali ed I had ' bee clea e gh i
   m e la a i h h he ac i i fi i he e all ce .
   D i g he b eak, I d e a ma i he b a d a d d e each f
   he k h aim . I he ac i i ie i li e i h he aim i a clea
   h e e e me i g a d i h .
   A ac i i e , e e a a ge f ch l gical me h d
   facili a e la e al hi ki g a d blem l i g. Re ea ch h ha he
   ac i e la , he e f me a h a d elli g, ca highligh i igh
   ha migh eme ge i h adi i al ce e . I ' e ibili
   c ec he d f clie . Thi i ld a d e ca ' j e ec
   hem . O ce e le ca c ec de ig ac i i ie he
   e, i ' ea ie f hem be m i a ed a d ee he al e f he
   k h .
   I k elf-de e mi a i he k . Bef e I had e e e e
   hea d f i , I e e ie ced i i ac i . O e e ea ag I eeded
   m i a e e f he m challe gi g g f e le I'd e e ked
   i h - ee age . N l a I ki g i h ee age b ee age
   

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10. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
    i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
    c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
    Page 57
    h e e c ide ed be h a i k. Kid h had ' had a fai
    b i gi g. The maj i f m de had m ed f m lace lace,
    f e a id famil i le ce a d i e ded i Be dig ab h
    i Melb e. Ma had e e ee he cea , e e bee Melb e,
    e e had a e .
    I de f hem a he cla I a eachi g, he e e
    e i ed gi e a fi al e e a i i f f hei ee . I did ' k
    h I a g i g be able m i a e a g f ee age a d i
    f f he cla a d a ici a e i a ac i i ha e 80% f ad l li
    a e f hei m fea ed e e ie ce - blic eaki g. H c ld I ge
    he e kid be m i a ed gi e a e e a i he j ge i g
    ch l e e da a a h ge challe ge?
    I ke i h me f m c lleag e a d he me i ed Righ e
    P , he ai d g hel kid i h a i m. I ga i ed f m cla
    be i l ed. I a he fi ime he a i ed ea l he cla . The
    e e e ci ed a d m i a ed. The d g ai e e c aged hem a d
    g a d eak g. B he e d f he g am, he c ld all lead
    hei d g . Whe i came ime gi e hei cla e e a i , he
    d i h c fide ce a d jec ed hei ice, j like he he
    di ec ed he d g .
    I ga i ed a mee i g i h J A , he head f Righ e P ,
    de a d h he c ld m i a e he kid a d ge e l . She aid he
    m im a hi g i make e e e e k ha d . D '
    m e il a e e ha e e e ca de a d a d ca d i
    i h eedi g hel . The ec d hi g he aid i make e he ge
    e c ageme k he a e d i g i igh . O ce he kid k
    he ' e c m e e , he ill a d m e. L ckil he aid he d e '
    ha e d ha beca e he d g d ha a f he . J A ld me ha
    d g d ' j dge. The d ' k h famil i , h ki ed
    

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11. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i
    i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be
    c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i .
    Page 58
    he eeke d ha b a d f jea ' e ea i g, he ake a
    a e. The ead b d la g age a d if i ' g a d ice i
    a e i e he ill f ll c mma d. E e e l e a , he
    kid c ec he d g a d a hel hem im e. B i g he e
    h ee ech i e he a able m i a e h d ed f ee a i k a d
    ai he e ge e a i f a i m a i a ce d g .
    Yea la e , he I came ac elf-de e mi a i he , I
    eali ed hi a ac all a hi g a d i ca be ed m i a e i a
    e f a lica i .
    S , bef e e k h , a k elf h ee
    hi g - ill a e dee k ha d ? H ill hel hem feel
    c m e e ? A d ca he c ec he k h ac i i ie hei ld?
    Y ' e all he e d i g ama i g k, i ' m aim ha b
    a l i g elf-de e mi a i he , ill be able im e
    e gageme i k h . Tha k .
    STEVE BATY: Tha k e m ch, Meli a. We ha e ime f e i
    beca e ' e igh , hich i e fec . If d ha e e i f
    Meli a ha ld like he ake a l k a , hem i he cha
    a el a he ha he Q&A a el. I'm i i g a m c ee he I d
    ha . B ha k e m ch f ha , Meli a. Tha a e
    i e e i g.
    MELISSA VODERBERG: Tha k .
    STEVE BATY: O e eake a e Michelle a d R h. I h e - I k
    he e a e a fe f h had he lea e f j i i g Michelle a d R h
    f a k h ea lie i he eek, hich I hea d de f l hi g ab .
    Hell , R h. Hell Michelle.
    

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