To support good performance, health care workers need clear job expectations, up-to-date knowledge and skills, adequate equipment and supplies, constructive feedback and a caring supervisor. Workers also need motivation, especially when some of the other factors that support good performance are lacking. Indeed, highly motivated individuals can often overcome obstacles such as poor working conditions, personal safety concerns and inadequate equipment. Given the current challenges related to human resources for health (HRH) in most developing countries, helping workers to be as productive as possible in the face of such obstacles can be an important outcome of increased motivation.