Understand motivation science
Understand how motivation works and how it differs from productivity, willpower, and discipline.
Explore the science of motivation — its different types, sources, and impacts on productivity and well-being.
About this Talk
Despite our best intentions, we all encounter challenges and obstacles that can make it difficult to stay engaged with tasks or goals. Motivation drives action, yet it is often misunderstood.
In this session, Dr. Myles Maillet explores the science of motivation, helping individuals recognize and respond to motivational difficulties. Attendees will learn to distinguish motivation from productivity, understand the roles of goal setting and self-regulation, and debunk common myths about willpower and rewards. The session provides concrete strategies to foster effective forms of motivation within ourselves and to support the engagement and performance of those around us.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Attendees leave with practical, evidence-based skills they can apply immediately.
Understand how motivation works and how it differs from productivity, willpower, and discipline.
Learn how goals, incentives, self-regulation, and context influence different types of motivation.
Identify strategies that support more effective and sustainable motivation over time.
Leave with practical tools that can improve persistence, goal pursuit, and everyday performance.
SESSION BREAKDOWN
The session begins with a practical overview of what motivation is, how it operates, and why it is often misunderstood.
Participants explore the factors that influence different motivational patterns, including incentives, goals, values, and environment.
This section focuses on actionable ways to support healthier motivation in work, habits, and performance-related contexts.
Your Speaker
Ph.D.
Dr. Myles Maillet is an expert in research and social psychology, senior economist, and speaker specializing in motivation, self-regulation, and behaviour change. He helps organizations understand what drives people to set goals, stay engaged, and navigate obstacles more effectively at work and in life.
Dr. Maillet completed his Honours BA at Western University and his MSc and PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Victoria. He currently works as a Senior Economist with the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, where he researches behaviours and perceptions related to cannabis use and the impacts of non-medical cannabis legalization in Canada. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Outlier Analytics. Dr. Maillet has delivered talks, lectures, and workshops to academic, industry, government, and community audiences, including Medify, Sniffspot, SSI, DailyHive, the Government of British Columbia, the Western Psychological Association, and the Capital Region District’s Traffic Safety Commission. He has also taught undergraduate courses on motivation, emotion, and well-being at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University, and has led statistical methods workshops for researchers. His research examines how and why people set goals, how they sustain effort, and what helps them overcome challenges, while emphasizing the role environments play in shaping behaviour, standards, and motivation. An award-winning educator and researcher, he has published and presented on topics including healthy eating, alcohol use, time in nature, motivation for learning, and the effects of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. When he is not reading or writing, he enjoys playing sports with friends, foraging for wild mushrooms, and paddle boarding around Vancouver Island. .
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Let’s discuss your needs and find the perfect fit to bring wellness to your team.
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