Engaged Employees The right work environment should, of course, lead to a heightened sense of employee motivation, which, in turn, leads to enhanced or discretionary effort. Enhanced effort is not just putting in the extra time; it’s also getting things right the first time and going out of one’s way for the customer. The motivational aspect of engagement is well supported by more than four decades of research. In his book, The Motivation to Work,30 published in 1959, Frederick Herzberg originated some of the most lasting and well-researched theories about work motivation. The factors determining satisfaction in Herzberg’s work are surprisingly similar to the elements of employee engagement. According to Herzberg, the true motivators at work include achievement, recognition, work itself, responsibility, advancement, and personal growth.