Motivation
Name variants
- English
- Motivation
- Katakana
- モチベーション
Quality / Updated / COI
- Quality
- Reviewed
- Updated
- Source
- Citations & Trust
- COI
- none
TL;DR
Motivation is the set of internal and external forces that energize behavior, shape effort, and sustain persistence toward goals.
Definition
Motivation explains why people choose to act, how much effort they invest, and how long they persist. It includes intrinsic drivers such as purpose and mastery and extrinsic drivers such as pay and recognition. The concept helps leaders design roles, incentives, and environments that align individual needs with organizational goals.
Decision impact
- Determines which incentives will increase effort without undermining intrinsic motivation.
- Guides job design and feedback systems that encourage persistence and learning.
- Influences how to address disengagement and burnout risks in teams.
Key takeaways
- Intrinsic motivation grows when people feel autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
- Extrinsic rewards work best when they reinforce clear performance expectations.
- Different individuals value different motivators; one-size-fits-all is weak.
- Recognition timing and specificity can be as important as compensation level.
- Motivation declines when goals are unclear or feedback is absent.
Misconceptions
- Money is the only motivator; many roles depend on meaning and growth.
- Motivation is fixed; it can be shaped by environment and leadership.
- Pressure always increases performance; excessive pressure can reduce it.
Worked example
A call center sees rising turnover and lower customer satisfaction. Managers interview staff and learn that rigid scripts prevent problem solving and growth. They redesign roles to allow more discretion, add coaching sessions, and publicly recognize problem-resolution wins. Engagement scores rise and turnover drops within two quarters.
Citations & Trust
- Organizational Behavior (OpenStax)