Encouraging Intrinsic Motivation: Your Important Questions Answered

Motivation can be a tricky thing. Sometimes you’ll feel like you can take on the world and do anything. Other times, you just can’t seem to keep yourself focused on a task. Part of the reason behind the ebb and flow is the fact that there are different types of motivation. But by identifying them and understanding why they drive you, you can muster up some extra motivation on those days when you’re struggling.

Question 1
Question 1 of 6:
What are the 3 types of intrinsic motivation?

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    Extrinsic, intrinsic, and family are the 3 types of motivation. Extrinsic motivation is doing something for external rewards such as exercising to lose weight or going to work to make money. Intrinsic motivation is doing something because you want to do it and it feels good to you such as hanging out with friends. Family motivation refers to the desire and drive to provide and take care of your loved ones.[1]

Question 2
Question 2 of 6:
What are some examples of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?

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    Arriving to work on time and going for a run to unwind. A great example of extrinsic motivation is whenever you rush to get to work on time so you don’t get in any trouble with your boss or manager. The driving force is avoiding punishment. On the other hand, if you decide to go for a nice jog after a long day of work to unwind, that’s an example of intrinsic motivation. You’re choosing to do the activity just because you want to and it makes you feel good, not because some outside force or motivation tells you to.[2]
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    Trying to impress friends and hanging out for fun. If you do something like learn a new language to impress your groups of friends, the drive to complete the task for an external reason (impressing your friends) is an example of extrinsic motivation. Whereas if you choose to spend time with your friends and watch a movie or just hang out because you want to, then you’re driven by intrinsic motivation.[3]

Question 3
Question 3 of 6:
How do you increase intrinsic motivation in employees?

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    Communicate goals and objectives clearly to give a sense of purpose. If you want your employees to feel the natural drive to contribute and succeed for their own satisfaction, they need to know exactly what to do. Show them how a task relates to the overall vision or goal of the organization so they can experience the intrinsic reward of knowing that their work matters and contributes to the bigger picture.[4]
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    Allow employees to collaborate based on their skills. Everyone has different abilities and skills, so rather than trying to convince your employees to get excited about mundane or ordinary tasks, try creating a collaborative approach where they work together to finish a task. That way, they can help each other and feel a sense of teamwork and belonging that driven by intrinsic motivation.[5]
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    Celebrate achievements to create a sense of pride and accomplishment. Recognize when your employees contribute to a project or task. Congratulate them on a job well done so they feel a sense of pride and satisfaction for their work. Showing your employees that their work is appreciated can help keep them engaged in the workplace and feel an intrinsic motivation to continue to perform well.[6]

Question 4
Question 4 of 6:
What are the disadvantages of intrinsic motivation?

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    It can be difficult to develop intrinsic motivation. The great thing about intrinsic motivation is that if you’re interested in something, you’ll feel naturally driven and motivated to explore and learn more about it. However, if you’re not necessarily interested in something, it can be difficult to develop and foster intrinsic motivation.[7] For instance, if you’re not super interested in learning about biology, it can take time and patience to develop an intrinsic motivation to learn more about it.[8]

Question 5
Question 5 of 6:
What is the best definition of intrinsic motivation?

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    Doing an activity just for the satisfaction of it. Intrinsic motivation is when a person wants to do something for the fun or challenge of it rather than because of external pressures or influences.[9] Being driven to do something because you have questions or you’re curious is because of intrinsic motivation. The desire to learn and explore is also a natural phenomenon and a part of your intrinsic motivation. It’s also often unique to who you are. For instance, you might be motivated to do something that other people aren’t, but it’s an important part of who you are.[10]

Question 6
Question 6 of 6:
What are the benefits of intrinsic motivation?

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    It’s a critical part of learning and development. Intrinsic motivation goes far beyond just being a drive that motivates you to do something. People are naturally active, curious, and playful. This natural motivation is an important part of your cognitive, social, and physical development. Acting on your own curious interests is a big part of how you learn new knowledge and skills.[11]

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How do you motivate yourself internally?
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Certified Executive Coach
    Jessica Elliott is a Certified Leadership and Wellness Coach and passionate entrepreneur. She's the founder of J Elliott Coaching, which provides unique coaching experiences to professionals, teams, and organizations. Jessica has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and over four years of certified coaching experience. She received her PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and her CEC (Certified Executive Coach) accreditation through Royal Roads University.
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Certified Executive Coach
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Understand where the root of the problem is coming from. Is it really because you're lazy, or are you just not interested in what you're doing and not challenged enough? Going back to your ’why’ is always a great place to start. If you understand your why, or your purpose for doing the things you do, then you can begin to solve the origin of the problem.
  • Question
    How do you stick to your goals?
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Certified Executive Coach
    Jessica Elliott is a Certified Leadership and Wellness Coach and passionate entrepreneur. She's the founder of J Elliott Coaching, which provides unique coaching experiences to professionals, teams, and organizations. Jessica has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and over four years of certified coaching experience. She received her PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and her CEC (Certified Executive Coach) accreditation through Royal Roads University.
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Certified Executive Coach
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Small incremental steps are always a better choice. You may feel like you are not getting anywhere, but by doing a few things everyday, you’re adding to your overall larger goal. The goal also has to serve you where you are at. If you get six months down the line and your goal no longer feels right to you, you can always change it, edit it, and make it serve you for that very moment. People get stuck on achieving exactly what they set out to do, but as humans, we can change so rapidly over a short period of time. The goals you made a year ago are probably not relevant today, so ease up on the guilt and expectations of yourself. Edit your goals to make them work for you now.
  • Question
    How do you set goals for yourself?
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Certified Executive Coach
    Jessica Elliott is a Certified Leadership and Wellness Coach and passionate entrepreneur. She's the founder of J Elliott Coaching, which provides unique coaching experiences to professionals, teams, and organizations. Jessica has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and over four years of certified coaching experience. She received her PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and her CEC (Certified Executive Coach) accreditation through Royal Roads University.
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
    Certified Executive Coach
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Slow things down, take it day-by-day, and understand that there's beauty hidden in the journey. Amazing things can happen when you build a path towards your goals, and if you have blinders on and ignore them, you’re perhaps missing out on nuggets of wisdom. Opening your mind to new possibilities along the way is the best way to look at the overall journey.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/3-types-motivation-can-inspire-you-do-anything-ncna781826
  2. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/3-types-motivation-can-inspire-you-do-anything-ncna781826
  3. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/3-types-motivation-can-inspire-you-do-anything-ncna781826
  4. ↑ https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2019/april/using-intrinsic-motivation-to-increase-employee-engagement/
  5. ↑ https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2019/april/using-intrinsic-motivation-to-increase-employee-engagement/
  6. ↑ https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2019/april/using-intrinsic-motivation-to-increase-employee-engagement/
  7. ↑ Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC. Certified Executive Coach. Expert Interview. 12 February 2020.
  8. ↑ https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/
  9. ↑ Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC. Certified Executive Coach. Expert Interview. 12 February 2020.
  1. ↑ https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9c21/f24fcc082e08036fa18aa848948039753fce.pdf?_ga=2.229282204.1857200032.1598976745-1160276356.1598976745
  2. ↑ https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9c21/f24fcc082e08036fa18aa848948039753fce.pdf?_ga=2.229282204.1857200032.1598976745-1160276356.1598976745

About This Article

Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
Co-authored by:
Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC
Certified Executive Coach
This article was co-authored by Jessica Elliott, ACC, CEC. Jessica Elliott is a Certified Leadership and Wellness Coach and passionate entrepreneur. She's the founder of J Elliott Coaching, which provides unique coaching experiences to professionals, teams, and organizations. Jessica has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and over four years of certified coaching experience. She received her PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and her CEC (Certified Executive Coach) accreditation through Royal Roads University. This article has been viewed 1,347 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: August 25, 2021
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Categories: Psychological Health