What is Motivation?

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Motivation is the “why” behind our behaviors. Behavior that is usually goal-oriented. The forces that lie beneath motivation can be biological, social, emotional or cognitive in nature. There are, indeed, a plethora of inducements that cause us to act the way we act and do the things we do. They include things like quenching our thirst, reading to gain knowledge, studying to ace an exam, surpassing quotas and meeting deadlines for a promotion, etc. According to Kendra Cherry’s article on “WHAT IS MOTIVATION”, there are three components of motivation: activation, persistence and intensity. Activation is the decision to initiate a behavior. Persistence is the continued effort toward a goal even though obstacles may exist. Intensity is the vigor or energy that goes into pursuing goals.

Cherry holds the view that motivation can be extrinsic or intrinsic. She explains that extrinsic motivation is external forces or incentives, for example: money, promotion, trophies, etc. Intrinsic motivation comes from within a person and involves contentment with just the personal satisfaction of accomplishing something. My view on this is that everyone engages in certain behaviors that are caused by extrinsic motivations, but the more I mature and experience life, the more I realize that having intrinsic motivations are far more satisfying, far-reaching and life-changing. A person’s inherent satisfaction will stem from a measurement of comparing themselves to themselves to determine if the person they are today is better than the person they were yesterday or what they did today is better than what they did yesterday. Their motivation isn’t so much about whether their better than anyone else which is often the case with extrinsic motivation. The...

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...ion for wanting to manage excellently, supervise diligently and lead sacrificially, all the while treating people with love, care, and respect whenever possible.

Works Cited

Pink, Daniel. Drive – The surprising truth about what motivates us. Riverhead Hardcover 2009

Greenberger, Dennis and Christine A. Padesky. Mind Over Mood. The Guilford Press 1995

Cherry Kendra. “What is Motivation?” About.com-Psychology. March 25, 2011

“Management Study Guide” http://www.managementstudyguide.com/what_is_motivation.htm

Willtek. “Difference between leader, manager, supervisor”. March 25, 2011

Maxwell, John C. The Maxwell Leadership Bible, New Kings James Version. (Pg.1186) Thomas Nelson, 2002

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