Motivation: What it really means in your business - inside and out

Motivation is a powerful force and can help you take your productivity to the next level. There are two types of motivation that people often use when working towards their goals: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation comes from within, while extrinsic motivation comes from outside sources (like someone else). Let's get into the difference between those two motives and why you might want to put one over the other in your work.

Intrinsic Motivation :

Intrinsic personal motivations are those things that happen internally, from within an individual's mind or something they find fulfilling in themselves. Employees who feel empowered and trust their managers are also more intrinsically motivated. If you give your employees a say in the direction of the company, they will be encouraged to work hard. When you create a positive work environment and inspire employees, they will be ready to face challenges head-on because they enjoy being part of the team.

Extrinsic Motivation :

Extrinsic motivation happens when someone is motivated by something outside their mind, like a reward such as money, benefits, or recognition. This type of motivation is usually found in workers who aren’t as interested in the activity, such as those who need a paycheck. Extrinsic motivation is not intrinsically evil, it just shouldn’t be your only strategy of motivation.

The Differences:

Intrinsic Motivation: This form of motivation comes from within and allows you to focus on your goal as something you want to achieve because of the potential satisfaction or fulfillment it will bring. It's your internal desire that says you want to do well and be better at what you are doing.

Extrinsic Motivation: This type of motivation comes from outside sources and takes away the excitement of your goals. It gets people to do things that are not necessarily in their best interest or their desire.

Most people are extrinsically motivated to some degree, which means that you don’t have to remove extrinsic rewards from your company. But when you rely on them too much for employee engagement, it can lead to less productivity and less loyalty. This is because employees are more committed to the reward and not the activity itself. The solution? Find ways to incorporate intrinsic and extrinsic rewards into your company culture.

When Intrinsic Motivation Gets Negative:?

To do something for no reason other than it makes you happy is intrinsic motivation. It can be hard for people with intrinsic motivation to see their own faults. They think that everyone else is doing what's right and that they themselves should do the same thing. This might explain why someone with intrinsic motivation had a reason to cheat or become involved in criminal activity.

It can also get bad when you're motivated by something outside yourself, like extrinsic motivation. When you let something external motivate you, then one day you come to see why it was important and how important it is for your next event or project. You realize that besides the reward, you have a reason to keep going and make things happen, so then the extrinsic becomes a source of motivation as well as satisfaction.

In the end.

The best way to create a work environment with a balance between these two types of motivation is to measure both. You can then use that information as you go along and see how things are going. Look at your results, and see what you're doing well, what needs improvement, and then try again with new techniques or new ways of thinking towards achieving the same thing.