You’re likely looking to know more about motivation skills because you are here. Lack of motivation happens to all of us. We can help you in mastering the art of motivation and how to get and stay motivated, with some benefits.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
It doesn’t matter what job you have. We all struggle with staying motivated at times. We are not powerless in such situations however understanding the motivations can help you stay focused and avoid procrastination.
Knowing what motivates and inspires you will help you get back on the right track when you feel lost. Sometimes all it takes is reminding yourself why your work is so important. You might also need a reward system if you are a team leader.
Let’s look at the different types of motivation that can help you accomplish more.
Motivation: What does it mean?
Motivation, at its core, is a two-way process, staying motivated and motivating others to accomplish a task or a project. It’s what drives you to do a task or act in a certain way. Motivation drives you to get up every morning, brush your teeth and head off to work.
Until you lose your motivation, you probably won’t even notice it. You are driven by many things every day, even though you may not know them.
It is essential to know about different types of motivations and what they impact most. It is important to bring them into the light, examine them, and learn how to work with different motivations. This will help us steer our boat instead of drifting with the current and wind. It’s a powerful technique.
Even if you feel depressed and low right now, think about this: Something motivated you to read this article. You want to get back on track, and it’s a good thing.
Types of Motivation
It is possible to boil it down to just two motivational types: intrinsic or extrinsic. Each type has its subtypes.
The inner motivation, or intrinsic motivation, comes from within. It is when you do something simply for it and because it aligns well with your passions or personal values.
You often say – “I like to do this” or I love doing this” (Love)
These motivators can bring you internal rewards like the satisfaction of knowing that your life purpose is being fulfilled. These motivators have a deeper meaning than most other motivators. This can help you stay focused and on your goal for a longer time.
Extrinsic motivation, also known as external motivation, refers to external factors that motivate you to do something. Extrinsic rewards and negative consequences could motivate you. Your ability to accomplish a task is what determines the outcome.
When you say – “I have to do this for” (Money)
Extrinsic motivators can only be used temporarily and should not be used for long-term projects. Studies have shown that people boost motivation when they are promised a reward immediately.
Students may believe that external motivation is a desire to succeed in school because they are proud of their grades. Students who are motivated by the content and want to succeed in school can be externally motivated.
Five types of intrinsic motivation
Motivating someone from the inside can be triggered by many things. Here are some examples. You might find one that you can relate to. This could serve as a reminder of why you do the things you do.
1. Motivation for learning (or competence motivation).
This type of motivation is driven by learning. Because you have never done this before, what you are trying to accomplish is exciting. Learning a new skill is exciting. The reward for completing the task is more important than the task itself.
Example: Teachers are motivated by the pursuit of knowledge and constant learning.
2. Attitude motivation
Attitude motivation is a positive attitude. You love spreading positivity and being positive. You want to make people feel good, so you look for activities that enable you to do this.
Example: A life coach can help people have fun while learning new skills with a positive attitude, and it motivates them each day to go to work.
3. Motivation for success
This type of motivation doesn’t necessarily focus on the reward at the finish — it is about getting to the finish line. The feeling of accomplishment is the greatest source of satisfaction.
Example: A professional athlete would like to win, no matter their title or prize. It is the ultimate goal, making all the hard work worthwhile.
4. Creative Motivation
Creativity might be what motivates you. This type of motivation might sound familiar to you if you get the creative freedom to express yourself. Just the idea of creating something new and different will motivate you.
Example: An artist will feel suffocated if micro-managed in creating a painting or a sculptor.
Creative people are most happy when they can complete projects in their way.
5. Physiological Motivation
The biological needs, such as water and a tasty meal, motivate you. These motivations are a result of years of evolution.
Example: Take Dr. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy. Maslow ranked the most important motivators for humans in order of importance. He started with their physical needs. You will gradually become self-actualized as you fulfill these basic needs.
What are your intrinsic motivators for success? EQ4C can help you understand yourself and keep you productive, even in a slump.
Four types of extrinsic or external motivation
External factors are likely to influence your motivational scale and resulting behavior. If you can leverage these external motivations, they can help you to a greater extent.
1. Incentives for Motivation
Motivation is all about external rewards. You are motivated by the result of a task, not the task itself. It’s just like Jerry is motivated to eat cheese (result). He is not worried about the hurdles caused by Tom.
Example: You might allow yourself your favorite movie after a difficult task. You consider the snack more important than the task, motivating you to accomplish the task.
2. Fear motivation
Fear of an unfavorable outcome is what motivates you. Although you don’t want to complete the task, you do it to avoid bad outcomes. At the workplace, managers use fear motivation to get work done.
For example, when an insurance agent induces a fear, you start saving money for the premiums. Fear motivation doesn’t have to be bad. It can help you reach overall wellness.
3. Power Motivation
It is normal to desire control over your life. Some people want to be in control of other people. There are many kinds of power that you can use to benefit or harm others.
Example: A politician may run for president because they believe their ideas are good for society. They need the power and the ability to put them into practice.
4. Social Motivation
Social motivation is the desire to be accepted within your social circle, and this is where you feel motivated by the opinions of others.
Example: You spend time improving your social skills, such as communication skills and building relationships, because you desire to make new friends.
How to make the most of different motivations
If you can’t turn your motivation into action, motivations are meaningless. These are just a few examples of implementing motivational ideas into your daily life.
Goal-setting
People motivated by accomplishments will be more successful if they focus on specific goals.
Tell others about your goals
Telling people about your goals is a great way to keep yourself accountable, especially if you are socially motivated.
Set up a reward system
If you require external motivation, this is the best technique. It will help if you reward yourself for every win.
Write about the people you have helped
You will feel motivated if you take the time to reflect on the people you made smile at the end of each day. Keep a diary to record happy moments.
Keep track of your progress in completing a task
This will help you stay organized and track progress to achieve a task.
Keep active
You can meet your physiological needs by exercising and taking care of your physical well-being. This goal will allow you to stay ahead of the rest.
Healthy food is important
Your body requires good nutrition to perform at its best. This will help you improve your performance.
Tracking apps are a great option
Many apps can organize and track your tasks and goals. Use these apps to save time and set reminders.
Different situations call for the different types of motivation
You can use the right type of motivation in the right context. It is important to adapt, mix-n-match, and adjust according to your needs. Here are some examples.
Teachers can use extrinsic methods to motivate students if they don’t enjoy learning. Remember that not all students are motivated by external stimuli, so you may have to use the intrinsic methods.
Managers frequently use both motivation techniques in the workplace. As a leader or manager of a team, you can set clear goals and keep track of their progress so everyone can see to increase team spirit and morale. This will help your team internalize their desire for healthy competition and achieve goals.
Find out the intrinsic motivations of underperforming employees. It is possible to assign projects to them based on their motivations.
Can motivation be negative?
When creating a motivation strategy, keep in mind that you can use positive or negative incentives to motivate yourself and others.
Negative incentives will only lead to lower motivation over the long term. Because it’s linked to stress (fear) and avoiding a bad outcome (failure), exploiting employees’ fear of failure can be a problem. You’re putting a burden on them and reducing their ability to solve problems. You could also risk burning them.
Instead, focus on your team’s intrinsic motivators. Knowing their desire to learn and providing them with the required resources is a positive motivation. They will be motivated and excited to do the work they love. Positive, motivating factors include praise and promotions.
Moving Ahead
Different motivations work for different people. Understanding your motivations will allow you to understand your cursor for productivity. To build new habits, increase employee motivation, or find more meaningful work or you can create a reward system.
If you have the right motivation, you can achieve your goals. If you need extra support, EQ4C can help you get started. We can all discover what motivates us together, and we can help you rekindle the fire of inspiration.
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