A modern leader’s dive into what get us moving and keeps us going Understanding motivation, failure, lightning bolts and ruts, and blood, sweat, and tears; Deconstructing the stories behind what stops us and what helps us make our dreams come true. Made for modern leaders. Clear the path for flow and finally reach your goals - in business, in teams, in relationships, in life. Everything comes down to Motivational IQ.
Apollo 13 Lessons for When Things Break | Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson, Ep. 13
In this episode, I use the real Apollo 13 mission and the 1995 movie to look at what helps people respond when a plan falls apart. The mission changed from landing on the Moon to bringing three people home, but the larger purpose stayed clear. I walk through five lessons about crisis, constraints, teamwork, honesty, and the danger hidden inside the phrase "failure is not an option." The practical question is simple: when things go wrong, what is true now, what must not fail, and what still needs to be completed?
25 Aug 2026
When Goals Reward the Wrong Behavior | Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson, Ep. 12
In this episode, I look at a problem hiding in plain sight: organizations say they want teamwork, judgment, innovation, quality, and long-term performance—and then reward something else. I connect lessons from *Start With Why*, *Leadership and Self-Deception*, *Goals Gone Wild*, and Steven Kerr’s classic reward-systems paper to show why many apparent motivation problems are really system-design problems. I also revisit the empty boat theory, the Hawthorne lighting story, and examples from Wells Fargo and Enron to make the consequences concrete. The practical challenge is simple: before you blame the people, audit what your goals, recognition, and incentives are actually teaching them to do.
19 Aug 2026
Five Books That Change and Deepen Motivation — Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson, Ep. 11
I have recommended and given away these five books for years because each one opened another part of the motivation puzzle for me. In this episode, I connect *Drive*, *The Three Signs of a Miserable Job*, *Influencer*, *Crucial Conversations*, and *Leadership and Self-Deception* to the same question: what if the person we call unmotivated is responding rationally to an environment we helped create? I show how choice, progress, purpose, safety, relationships, measurement, and the way we see people shape what happens next. My goal is to help you stop trying to push motivation into people and start creating conditions where engagement can emerge.
12 Aug 2026
Your First Question Reveals Your Motivation, Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson Ep 10
In this episode, I ask you to notice the first question that shows up when something changes: **what, how, or why?** I use examples of child who ate a worm, a frog in a well, and a few familiar psychology ideas to show how our questions reveal whether we are surviving, succeeding, or searching for purpose. I explain why beginners need facts and progress, experienced people focus on choices, and people who know the territory start asking what it all means. My goal is to help you read your own reactions, find the motivational input you need, and move through change without panicking when the stage shifts.
11 Aug 2026
Can Politics Solve Problems Again? — Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson, Ep. 10.5
I recorded this one because election day in Wisconsin left me frustrated and unwilling to accept politics as usual. I use my why, how, what lens to ask what government is for, how the Constitution guides it, and why problem-solving matters more than followers, power, or a single issue. I also challenge myself—and you—to step back from offense, look toward the greater good, and judge leaders by how they arbitrate, negotiate, and navigate dissent. This is not about picking a side; it is about finding a better way to move forward together.
10 Aug 2026
Powerful Goals - Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson Ep 9
In this episode, I unpack why an exciting goal can still burn you out—and why “the easy resonates with a hollow why.” I show you how the right mix of autonomy, mastery, and purpose changes as you move from starting something to getting good at it. We look at why beginners need traction before inspiration, how to turn a distant goal into something you can see and act on, and why adaptability is what keeps consistency alive. My goal is to help you build goals with a clear what, real choices in the how, and a why strong enough to last.
8 Jul 2026
Improvement does NOT require failure, Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson Ep 8
In this episode, I talk about contrast—why the same activity can feel energizing one day and miserable the next. I walk through how purpose, choice, and progress change the way we experience work, relationships, and even hard seasons of life. I also share a few personal stories from my own career and family life to show how motivation shifts when what matters most becomes clear. The big idea is simple: when you align your why, your choices, and your progress, you stay engaged longer and with more meaning.
2 Jul 2026
Broken Teams Look Alike Ep 7 of Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson
In my years of rescuing failing projects, I’ve noticed that most people look at a company pyramid the wrong way. They think the top simply bosses the bottom, and the bottom just does what it's told.
But the best, most powerful organizations function completely differently.
In those cultures, every single layer understands one fundamental truth: Their team exists to help the tier above them make better decisions. In this week's episode of Motivational IQ, we break open the structural anatomy of organizations. I share a personal story from early in my career about a confusing bonus check that taught me why mastering your baseline objectives is absolute table stakes before you ever chase the flashy, extra stuff.
We also dive into:
• The 1-3-5 Rule: A tactical daily tool designed to hack your brain's dopamine rewards and fuel intrinsic motivation.
• The Status Report Trap: Why doing great work in secret is a fast track to getting let go.
• Supercharging your SWOT: How to look at your corporate strategy through a human behavior lens.
24 Jun 2026
Do you have the ingredients of The Perfect Employee? Ep 6 Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson
Most companies overlook the crucial ingredients that turn an average worker into an exceptional team member. Andy Thompson uncovers the three core traits that distinguish great employees—and how understanding your place on the productivity pyramid can transform your motivation and performance.
In this eye-opening episode, Andy dives into the often-misunderstood dynamics of workplace effort. He breaks down the productivity pyramid—ranging from lazy to deliberately purpose-driven—and explains how recognizing where you and others sit within it can unlock enormous potential. You’ll discover why busywork isn’t the same as focused productivity, and how shifting your mindset can propel you from simply keeping afloat to leading with purpose.
Andy shares actionable insights on what makes a good employee: relentless hard work during the right moments, a willingness to learn and adapt, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. These traits aren’t just buzzwords—they're the fabric of high-performing teams. Plus, learn how to identify these qualities in others during interviews and everyday interactions, ensuring you build teams that thrive.
Why does this matter? Because a deeper awareness of motivation and effort levels can prevent burnout, foster genuine engagement, and help you lead and nurture talent more effectively. Whether you're a leader, manager, or simply aiming to elevate your own performance, understanding the interplay of effort, purpose, and growth is your game changer.
If you’re ready to see yourself and your team through a new lens—one that emphasizes progress, deliberate effort, and value—this episode is essential listening. Unlock the secrets to building motivated, high-achieving teams and energize your pathway to success.
Andy Thompson is a seasoned business coach with decades of experience transforming teams and individuals. He’s helped countless companies turn around failing projects and elevate their teams by focusing on foundational traits like effort, humility, and pursuit of excellence.
Prepare to revolutionize your understanding of motivation and performance—because when you master these core attributes and the productivity pyramid, you're not just working harder; you're working smarter, with intention and purpose.
19 May 2026
Unmixable: Micromanagement and Strategy
In this episode, we’re digging into the difference between crushing and inspiring the soul through strategy and micromanagement. I’m sharing some hard-earned insights from my decades in IT management and transformation rescue to show you how a good strategy drives progress, while the misapplication of micromanagement completely destroys human potential. We’ll look at why clarity of purpose down through the ranks changes everything, how to spot the difference between helpful service and controlling oversight, and a concrete way to push back if you’re the one being micromanaged. Today, you’re going to walk away with a actionable understanding of how to build an environment where people actually love their jobs.
14 May 2026
Running on Empty? The Cure for Burnout
You are the Architect of Your Motivation
In this episode, I’m digging into what actually makes you tick and how to self-diagnose where you’re at when life starts to drag you down. I share some personal stories from my childhood—growing up in the 70s with a dad who was obsessed with math and physics—and how that shaped the way I look at growth and effort today. We’re exploring a "wizard" of questions to help you figure out if you're just surviving or if you're truly thriving in your flow state. The goal is to help you move from being stuck in the "painful awareness" of what you don't know to becoming a master of your own mental edge.
7 May 2026
Dysfunctional Team? One simple fix.
Explore the dynamics of team formation, motivation, and the parallels with popular stories like Lord of the Rings and real-life examples like Apollo 13. Learn how understanding the stages of team development can accelerate performance and foster resilience.
Keywords
team formation, motivation, Lord of the Rings, Bruce Tuckman, project management, team dynamics, leadership, influence, hazing, resilience
Key topics
Stages of team development (forming, storming, norming, performing)
Motivation and resilience in teams
Lessons from Lord of the Rings and other stories on team evolution
The role of vulnerability and hazing in team bonding
Project management as a process of continuous learning
Sound bites
"Serious illness accelerated team bonding"
"Identify where you are in the process"
"Crisis can gel a team quickly"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Team Motivation and Formation
01:13 The College Model of Learning and Team Development
03:40 Lord of the Rings: A Model of Team Growth
06:01 Bruce Tuckman's Team Formation Stages
07:25 From Survive to Thrive: The Motivational Path
10:25 Real-Life Example: Team with a Serious Illness
11:17 The Role of Initiation and Hazing in Team Acceleration
13:23 Project Management as a Process of Learning
16:17 The Power of Vulnerability and Humility in Teams
18:39 Lessons from Apollo 13 and Team Resilience
29 Apr 2026
Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson Episode 2, SMART Goals
Learn how to harness motivational intelligence buoyancy to enhance your personal growth and resilience. Discover the journey from survival to thriving.
27 Apr 2026
M IQ Episode 1, Core Foundations
Discover the process of learning through motivational intelligence and how it influences our journey from confidence to competence. Perfect for parents and educators.
Motivational IQ, where we dive deep into understanding your motivation, capabilities, and potential. Have you ever wondered why confidence doesn't always translate into competence? In this post, I’ll share insights from my experience teaching my children to drive, revealing the universal process we all undergo as we learn new skills. This exploration of motivational intelligence will help you understand how we progress through different stages of learning.
23 Apr 2026
Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson Trailer
Connecting the dots between life, leadership, and motivation
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Contact Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Motivational IQ with Andy Thompson?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
