The Positive Ripples We Create When We Align What We Do With Who We Are.
By Rob Bishop
Over the years, I’ve met hundreds of people at career crossroads. Some are riding the wave of a recent promotion, others are grappling with redundancy and many are just quietly wondering: What’s next for me?
In these moments, I often return to a deceptively simple idea: Motivational Fit.
It’s not just a recruitment tool. It’s not a buzzword. For me, it’s about alignment, that sweet spot where your skills, values and inner drivers come together in a way that feels energising and authentic.
Because when people say yes to roles they can do, but don’t want to do, the consequences often ripple out negatively in quiet but powerful ways – impacting wellbeing, performance, teams and culture.
Capability vs Motivation: A Subtle But Powerful Divide
Have you ever been told you’d be perfect for a job — and believed it, even if something in you wasn’t sure?
Or hit “apply now” on half a dozen roles during a time of uncertainty, even though none of them sparked anything beyond vague relief?
Or maybe you said yes to a promotion simply because it seemed like the logical next step?
These are common crossroads. And they’re easy to rationalise. But I’ve seen many people take those steps and slowly drift from the work that brings them joy — all while becoming more technically proficient, more relied upon, and more exhausted.
Some people rise to the challenge, tick every box… and quietly hate every moment.
Others realise, too late, that they’re out of alignment. They feel isolated, lose momentum, or second-guess their decisions. And because they’ve stepped “forward,” it feels hard to step “back.”
As a recruiter, I’ve watched people struggle when promoted into roles they weren’t motivated to do, or that demanded leadership without proper support or interest. These situations can lead to real disengagement; even in brilliant, capable people.
Thoughts Become Ripples
There’s a quote I’ve always loved:
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”– Lao Tzu
When we take the time to understand what truly motivates us — what energises us, aligns with our values, and feels “right” — we aren’t just making career decisions. We’re shaping our lives. Our energy. Our impact.
And the same is true for organisations. When teams or leaders can’t articulate what they stand for — when values are vague or disconnected from behaviour — people feel it. Trust erodes. Culture frays.
But when there’s clarity of thought and alignment between values and action, we create ripples of engagement, connection, and performance that go far beyond the individual.
Done well, your authentic self and your best self begin to look the same.
The Ripple Alignment Tool
To support this alignment, I often use a simple but powerful reflection exercise with candidates, clients and sometimes even whole teams. I call it the Motivational Fit Exercise, a kind of personal WOF that helps clarify what’s driving you.
It’s especially useful during times of change, decision-making, or growth.
✍️ The Exercise: Draw four columns and label them as follows
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What I Can Do (Capability)
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Skills, qualifications, experience. All the things in your toolbox.
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What I Enjoy Doing (Motivation)
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From column one, highlight the items that energise you — the work that flies by, that feels meaningful, that makes you smile more than frown.
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What I’d Love To Do (Aspiration)
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Future-focused. What roles, impact, environments or challenges light a spark for you? What do you dream about when no one’s watching?
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Gaps To Bridge (70/20/10 – Experience / Coaching / Training)
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What stands between today and that future vision? What do you need to learn, try, explore or ask for?
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I encourage people to revisit this regularly — not just when applying for jobs. It brings insight, confidence and direction. It helps clarify what’s next, but also what matters.
And when used by managers with their team members, it becomes a powerful career development and engagement tool. It encourages genuine conversations about purpose, readiness and growth — and helps avoid the risk of mismatched promotions or burnout.
The Ripples of Motivational Fit
Motivational fit doesn’t just make people feel good — it changes how they behave.
When people are doing work that aligns with their values and energises them, they ripple positivity. They collaborate better. Think more clearly. Take feedback constructively. They recover faster from setbacks.
You can feel it in how they talk. You can see it in their work.
And when they’re misaligned? That ripples too — through disconnection, frustration, or quiet underperformance.
These ripples shape culture more than most strategy documents ever will.
Final Thoughts: Check In Before You Step Forward
Not every job will tick every box. And that’s okay.
But before you say yes to something new — or stay too long in something old — take a moment to check in with yourself.
Ask:
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What gives me energy?
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What am I doing when I feel most like myself?
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Where do my values and actions line up and, most importantly, where don’t they?
Because the better we understand what moves us, the better the choices we make and the more intentional and constructive our ripple becomes…
If you’d like a downloadable version of the Ripple Alignment Tool feel free to get in touch.
