Italians are motivated first and foremost by people, not by systems, targets, or abstract goals. The energy they bring to their work, their commitments, and their daily efforts flows from the personal bonds they have with the people around them. When Italians feel personally connected to a leader, colleagues, or a group, their commitment can be extraordinary.
When they feel treated as anonymous or interchangeable, effort drops sharply. This means that building genuine personal relationships is not a soft skill in Italian professional contexts—it is the primary mechanism through which motivation operates.
If you want Italians to invest their best effort, invest in them personally. Show genuine interest in who they are, not just what they produce. The personal connection comes first; the professional output follows from it.
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