A couple of decades back, researchers studied 84 chambermaids in 7 hotels in the US. Despite working on jobs that involved hours of physical work every day: lifting mattresses, pushing carts, bending, stretching, walking long corridors, the chambermaids believed most of them did not get enough exercise.
Participants were divided into two groups.
The first group was told that their daily work already met recommended levels of physical activity.
Each task was reframed as exercise: squatting, lifting, brisk walking etc.
They were told that based on their work, they should experience higher fitness and health benefits.
The second group was told nothing, they continued their work as-is.
Nothing else changed. Same workload, hours, diet.
Four weeks later, the first group that believed their work counted as exercise showed measurable improvements—lower weight, better BMI, improved blood pressure. The other group showed no change.
What changed wasn’t the work. It was the meaning attached to the work.
This has profound implications for how we think about workplace motivation.
When people believe their effort matters, when they understand the value of their work, their energy shifts. Stress reduces. Self-efficacy increases. Their motivation increases.
Good managers don’t just assign work. They help people see how their daily actions contribute—to customers, to teams, to outcomes.
Is your manager helping you understand how your work makes a difference?
At the outset, I would like to thank you for stopping by my Blog.
I believe that there is nothing right or wrong in this world. What’s right in this moment and context may be wrong in another moment and context. This belief has inspired me to name my blog ‘Perspectives’.
Perspectives is a platform for me to share my experiences, thoughts and perspectives on various subjects. You may have a different point of view. I look forward to hearing them, these are the triggers for rich and deep conversations.
On personal front, I live in Mumbai, India. I love to read; Somerset Maugham and Nevil Shute are my favorite authors. My favorite books are The Razor’s Edge, Mrs. Craddock, Chequer Board and Gone with the Wind. I am thankful to my father who inculcated the habit of reading in me early on.
I am also passionate about traveling, I have been to most parts of India and to several countries across the globe.
On professional front, I work in Human Resources function. Over two and half decades, I have worked across multiple industries and cultures. I focus on Leadership Development, Talent Management, Visioning and Culture, Large-scale change, Employee Listening & Engagement, Employee Well-being, Inclusive work culture, HR effectiveness, Behavior and Mind-set shifts through sustained interventions
I currently lead Organization Effectiveness Function for Aditya Birla Group, a $44.3 billion conglomerate with 120000 employees across 35 countries.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading my blog. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions.
Thank you!
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Perspectives 