The definition of motivation is to give reason, incentive, enthusiasm or interest that causes a specific action or a certain behavior. Motivation is present in all functions of life. Simple acts like eating are motivated by hunger. Education is motivated by the desire for knowledge. Motivators can be anything from reward to coercion.
There are two main types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is internal. It occurs when people are forced to do something for pleasure, importance, or desire. Extrinsic motivation occurs when external factors force a person to do something. However, there are many theories and labels that serve as subtitles to the definition of motivation. For example: “I’ll give you a candy bar if you clean your room.” This is an example of reward motivation.
A common place where we see the need to apply motivation is in the workplace. In the workforce, we can see that motivation plays a key role in leadership success. A person unable to capture motivation and apply it, will not become or continue to be a leader. It is critical that anyone seeking to lead or motivate understands “Howlett’s Hierarchy of Work Motivators.”
Salary, benefits, working conditions, supervision, politics, security, affiliation, and relationships are all externally motivated needs. These are the first three levels of the “Howletts Hierarchy”. When these needs are met, the person moves up to level four and then five. However, if levels one through three are not reached, the person feels dissatisfied with their work. When satisfaction is not found, the person becomes less productive and eventually quits or is fired. Achievement, advancement, recognition, growth, responsibility, and the nature of the job are internal motivators. These are the last two levels of the “Howletts Hierarchy”. They occur when the person is self-motivated (after external motivational needs are met). An employer or leader who meets needs in the “Howletts Hierarchy” will see motivated employees and see increased productivity. Understanding the definition of motivation and then applying it is one of the most frequent challenges employers and supervisors face. Companies often spend thousands of dollars each year hiring outside firms just to give motivational seminars.
Another place where motivation plays a key role is in education. A teacher who implements motivational techniques will see increased participation, effort, and higher grades. Part of the teacher’s job is to provide a motivating environment. This environment accounts for students who lack their own internal motivation. One of the first places people start setting goals for themselves is at school. Ask any adult: “What is the main thing that motivates you?” His answer will most likely be goals. Even the simplest things in life are the result of setting goals. A person may say, “I want to save $300.00 for a new TV.” Well, that’s a goal. School is where we are most likely to learn the correlation between goals and the definition of motivation. That correlation is what generates success.
So as you can see, motivation is what drives life. It plays an important role in almost everything we do. Without motivation, we simply wouldn’t care about results, means, achievement, education, success, failure, employment, etc. So what would be the point?
