Tag Archive for: Intrinsic motivation

The Power of Intrinsic Motivation

The Power of Intrinsic Motivation: Why It Drives Success More Than External Rewards

What makes people push themselves to achieve great things—without a boss breathing down their neck or a paycheck dangling in front of them? The answer lies in the power of intrinsic motivation, the internal drive to pursue a goal for personal satisfaction rather than external rewards like money or recognition.

Intrinsic Motivation definition: Intrinsic motivation is defined as the doing of an activity for its inherent satisfaction rather than for some separable consequence. When intrinsically motivated, a person is moved to act for the fun or challenge entailed rather than because of external products, pressures, or rewards. NLM

The Science Behind Intrinsic Motivation

Psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan developed Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which identifies three core needs that fuel intrinsic motivation:

  1. Autonomy – The ability to make choices and direct our actions.
  2. Competence – The desire to improve and master skills.
  3. Relatedness – Feeling connected to others and having a sense of purpose.

When these needs are met, people engage in tasks with greater enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence compared to those motivated by external rewards alone.

Data That Proves Intrinsic Motivation Works

  • A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that when children were given external rewards for drawing—an activity they previously enjoyed—they actually became less interested in drawing over time. This is known as the over justification effect, where external rewards reduce intrinsic motivation.
  • Research from McKinsey & Company shows that employees who are intrinsically motivated are 46% more engaged and 32% more committed to their jobs compared to those primarily driven by external rewards.
  • A meta-analysis in Psychological Bulletin found that students who are intrinsically motivated achieve higher academic performance and deeper learning retention than those motivated by grades alone.

How to Cultivate The Power of Intrinsic Motivation

Whether you’re leading a team, raising kids, or striving for personal growth, fostering intrinsic motivation leads to better long-term success than relying solely on rewards. Here’s how:

  1. Find Meaning – Connect tasks to personal values and larger goals.
  2. Encourage Autonomy – Give yourself or others freedom to choose how to approach tasks.
  3. Focus on Mastery – Shift the focus from results to improvement and progress.
  4. Build a Growth Mindset – Emphasize learning over perfection.

Final Thoughts about the Power of Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is what fuels people to train for marathons, master musical instruments, or push through challenges even when no one is watching. By tapping into what truly drives us, we unlock a level of passion and persistence that no paycheck or trophy can match.

How do you stay intrinsically motivated? Let’s discuss in the comments!

the Power of Intrinsic Motivation

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shannon McKain is a motivational keynote speaker and a business consultant based in Dallas. She has worked in nearly all 50 states with audiences ranging from corporate executives to student leaders. Looking for a keynote speaker or consultant who can speak on these issues with expertise? Let’s chat!

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Intrinsic Motivation

A couple of years ago, I traveled to Barcelona for a trip with two of my girlfriends. We were having the time of our lives exploring the city, enjoying new experiences, and dining on great food.

Unfortunately, I had packed the wrong shoes for walking around this beautiful city and by day three my feet were over it! I told my friends I didn’t care what mode of transportation passed us next, I was flagging it down and getting a ride back to the hotel. I turned around and here came Alex, with the biggest smile, pedaling a rickshaw.

I knew from experience that rickshaws weren’t the most cost effective means of transportation. In fact, Alex quoted a price that made me gasp, but I couldn’t walk another step, so we climbed aboard his rickshaw and away we went. I wasn’t prepared for the conversation that would follow.

Alex began asking us lots of questions…where were we from, what were we doing in Spain, how we liked Barcelona, and more. During the ten-minute ride, we learned that he was a sophomore at the local university. He LOVED being a rickshaw driver and had some big goals. He realized that if he got up an extra hour everyday to work, he could save enough money over the next semester to buy his own rickshaw and start his own company. He handed me his business card and it was clear he had created a marketing and business plan to get his company off the ground and make a living. His motivation as a young person was overwhelmingly refreshing and I began to wonder if he was born with some level of intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation is defined as engaging in a behavior because it is personally rewarding, not for an external award. Alex possessed five key components that had helped him realize measurable success over a short amount of time.

  • Achievement drive – the personal drive to improve and achieve
  • Commitment – the ability to set, and reach, goals
  • Initiative – the willingness and readiness to act on opportunities
  • Optimism – the gift of finding the silver lining, even after a set-back
  • Resilience – the ability to adapt and overcome

The more I’ve studied the relationship between motivation and emotional intelligence, the more I’ve understood how we become motivated the most when we find activities that allow us to operate at an optimal “flow.”

Daniel Goleman, author of Working with Emotional Intelligence gives the example of “Joe.” Joe is someone who finds his work exhilarating and performs at his best. The key to exhilaration is not the task itself – Joe’s job is often routine – but the special state of mind Joe creates as he works, a state called “flow.” Flow moves people to do their best work, no matter what work they are doing.

Goleman isn’t the only expert in “flow.” Years ago, I meandered through a Barnes & Noble and found a book titled Flow. The psychology of the optimal experience.

In 1975, Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi defined flow as, “the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at a great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” Csikszentmihalyi said that psychologists who study happiness, life satisfaction and intrinsic motivation have found this definition helpful.

The idea of flow and intrinsic motivation fascinates me. The idea that someone like Alex was intrinsically motivated to start his own company at the age of 20 and put the desire into action is inspiring.

Recently, I asked a few friends these questions:

  • What motivates you?
  • When do you feel you are performing at an optimal level?
  • What in your life do you take initiative on?

The range of answers was pretty cool…

  • Creating solutions for customers
  • When I am working on something really important for someone else
  • Motivated by learning, growing and creating
  • Having a goal, dream or vision
  • To be the best in my profession

Emotional intelligence and motivation go hand-in-hand. If you get out of bed everyday but aren’t compelled to live your life with a sense of purpose, perhaps you need to ask yourself those three questions. I want to know what drives people, what makes them tick, what makes them want to give 110%. And I want that for you, too.

Motivation is what pushes us to achieve our goals, feel more fulfilled and improve overall quality of life. Without proper motivation, the quality of work is likely not at its full potential. Understanding what motivates you is a primary component in becoming more emotionally intelligent, but also in achieving success in life.

So, what’s motivating you today? Is it to return to school? Earn a promotion? Take a dream vacation? Pay off some debt?

In my keynotes, I talk about emotional intelligence and success in the workplace. From working with c-level executives in healthcare, middle managers in corporate America or students forging the start of their careers, I am passionate about helping people find their definition of success.

Shannon is a motivational speaker based in Dallas, TX. She has worked in almost all 50 states with audiences ranging from corporate executives to student leaders.