Intrinsic Motivation is Its Own Reward

Intrinsic motivation defined.
Intrinsic motivation is defined as a state in which an individual is motivated by internal factors, as opposed to external agents. In simple words, you just feel very strongly on the inside about doing something!
Have you ever taken an action because you thought it was the right or ethical thing to do? Have you ever taken up a cause you know will benefit others or just done something for the sheer joy of it? Those are examples of intrinsic motivation at work.
While it is believed that intrinsic motivation is generally far stronger than extrinsic motivation, there are cases when the opposite is true, and external considerations take over. This is known as the “over justification” effect.
Okay, so we’ll cut the jargon out.
Let’s say you love the outdoors and spend most weekends trekking in the hills. You talk a group of friends into it, and before you know it, you’ve got a reputation as a great “adventure guide”. So far, so good!
Soon, you’re conducting little excursions for the overworked staff of firms in your part of the world – and before you know it, that’s a business you’re running.
Would you still want to take your friends on a trip? Or have commercial considerations done away with all that?
This happens often enough, and that’s why experts believe that it is best not to seek external rewards for actions where internal motivation is involved. Why fix something that ain’t broke, right?
At work in the workplace.
Intrinsic motivation has been widely studied by researchers in the realm of education since the start of the 1970s. We’ll quote some of their findings here since they apply equally well to business situations.
It was found that students who are intrinsically motivated tend to perform better, make higher grades and enjoy the learning experience more than the others.
A man named Bernard Weiner created a theory known as the "Attribution Theory" (sorry, more jargon!). This theory is based upon how oriented people are towards their goals, and their perception of the control they have over what happens to them!
When a person believes that he or she has control over circumstances, or is able to influence outcomes, that belief gives rise to an intrinsic motivation to perform. This theory has been proved with students, and there is no reason why it should not work for business owners and their employees.
To draw a parallel, let your staff know that they play a key role in attaining their own personal goals. Once they get rid of the lady luck fixation, they will have motivation from within to work harder and better – not because you asked them to, but because they feel it’s the right thing to do.
From there on, it’s a natural progression for them to try and excel at their given task, simply for they pleasure of being good at what they do.
The beauty of this is that intrinsic motivation holds no promise of material reward as opposed to extrinsic motivation, which is all about profit and gain.
For the greater good.
It is no surprise that those who are intrinsically motivated are also often altruistic. We have all known the desire to help someone or contribute to the greater good of the community, at some time or other. In fact, this is part of our philosophy at Aykya, and our group companies support many charitable causes with diverse purposes. In those cases, indeed, the action is its own reward.