Self-determination theory (SDT) is one of the core pillars of my professional practice. I was glad to see that a past client of mine, the association of certified human resources professionals of Québec, has adopted this framework for their profession. In my presentation in 2020 I concluded that while there is a modern HR system today, it is still informed by some old traditions that may no longer be appropriate. All professionals should understand the underlying assumptions of their field, question them, and determine if they are still useful.
The CRHA posted a good graphic on SDT on LinkedIn and I would like to share it here. It is also available in French.
I am posting this here in 2026 because — “Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.” —André Gide (1869–1951)
More thoughts on self-determination theory:
- self-determination at work (2014)
- self-determination ensures democracy (2018)
- relatedness for knowledge sharing (2019)
- leadership in broken systems (2023)
- connect the dots (2023)
- meaning making (2024)