Motivational drivers are what trigger the willingness to do something. These triggers are unique for each person and can have a powerful effect in motivating people.
The power is with individuals who act in our world of exponential change and ever-increasing complexity.
In particular, the power lies with those who act with self-determination and tenacity. Our level of drive is the most precious asset we own. Its worth is determined only by action, and it varies depending on how we choose to engage our attention.
What Motivates People?
People who have strong willpower and motivational drive often fuel their willingness through two things: either personal or institutional. People who have a personal power drive desire to exert their authority over other people, while those who have an institutional power drive prefer to coordinate the activities of a group in order to advance the objectives of the organization.
Those individuals who have a desire for institutional authority are often more appealing as team members, as you probably already may guess.
Every worker, no matter what sort of job they do, has some motivational drivers that motivate them. Something that gets them out of bed in the morning, something that drives them to work hard and accomplish their objectives.
What motivates them is influenced by biological, intellectual, social, and emotional factors; therefore, motivation is a set of deeply ingrained and intrinsic driving forces that can be harnessed by external influences.
Learn more about the difference between being motivated and being driven.
Motivation is a set of deeply ingrained and intrinsic driving forces that can be harnessed by external influences. By giving some thought to the things that motivate the individuals on your team, you will be more equipped to work with them and coax their best performance out of them.
Motivational Drivers for the Workforce
The following are examples of motivating drivers for the workforce:
- The need to achieve: Employees who have a strong desire to achieve success are often more motivated than those who do not.
- The need for recognition: Employees who feel that their work is recognized and valued are often more motivated than those who do not.
- The need for affiliation: Employees who feel a sense of belonging to a group or organization are often more motivated than those who do not.
- The need for power: Employees who feel that they have the power to make decisions and influence others are often more motivated than those who do not.
- The need for autonomy: Employees who feel that they have the freedom to direct their own work are often more motivated than those who do not.
- The need for purpose: Employees who feel that their work has purpose and meaning are often more motivated than those who do not.
What Drives Motivation in Employees
The following are some of the most effective strategies to encourage employees:
- Provide training and development opportunities. Employees who believe they are always learning and improving are often more motivated than those that do not.
- Offer competitive salary and benefits. Employees who believe they are treated properly are often more motivated than those who are not.
- Create a favorable work atmosphere. Employees who see their workplace as supportive and fun are often more driven than those who do not.
- Encourage employee participation and input. Employees who believe their thoughts and views are welcomed and respected are often more driven than those who do not.
- Recognize and reward workers for their accomplishments. Employees who believe their accomplishments are acknowledged and rewarded are often more driven than those who do not.
The capacity to motivate oneself to take initiative and action in order to pursue objectives and finish tasks is referred to as self-motivation. It’s a compulsion deep inside you to get things done, to make something, and succeed.
It is what drives you to continue working on projects, particularly ones that you are pursuing because you want to rather than because someone else instructed you to. It is essential to know how to motivate yourself when working on long-term projects or goals.
This is because motivation is what drives you to continue working hard and not give up. In addition, motivation can also help you stay focused and avoid procrastination.
Motivational Drivers for the Self
Here are some examples of motivational drivers for yourself:
The need to feel competent and capable
It is a fundamental human need. We all want to feel like we’re good at something and that we have the skills and abilities to accomplish our goals. This need is especially important in the workplace, where our sense of competence can be closely tied to our job performance and career success.
When we feel like we’re good at our jobs, we’re more engaged and motivated to do well. We’re also more likely to have positive relationships with our coworkers and feel like we’re part of a team.
However, when we don’t feel competent, we can become disengaged, discouraged, and even resentful. We may start to doubt our abilities and feel like we’re not cut out for our job.
Our performance may suffer, and we may even start to look for other opportunities.
The need to feel a sense of control
The need to feel a sense of control over our lives is a fundamental human need. And yet, control is an illusion. The only thing we can truly control is ourselves and how we respond to the events and circumstances that come our way.
The illusion of control can lead us to feel stressed and anxious when things don’t go our way. In an attempt to feel more in control, we may try to control others, but this only leads to frustration and conflict.
When we accept that we cannot control everything, we can let go of the need to control. This doesn’t mean we become passive or apathetic. It simply means that we stop trying to force things to happen and instead flow with what is.
By letting go of the need to control, we can find peace and acceptance. We can also open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities. So the next time you find yourself feeling stressed or anxious, remember that you don’t have to control everything.
Let go, and see what happens.
The need for autonomy and independence
The need for autonomy and independence is something that most people feel very strongly about. It is part of our nature to want to be in control of our own lives and make our own decisions.
However, there are times when we need to rely on others for help and support. This can be a difficult balance to strike. But it is one that we must learn to cope with if we are to live happy and fulfilled lives.
The need for a sense of belonging
One of the most basic needs for human fulfillment is the desire for belonging. A longing to feel that one is part of a community. According to the hierarchy of needs proposed by Abraham Maslow, one of the well-known content theories of motivation; a sense of belonging is one of the most essential human motivators. It ranks third behind the need for safety and the need for one’s body (Maslow, 1943).
Having a feeling of belonging makes a major contribution to the overall psychological well-being of a person (Perlman & Peplau, 1981).
The need to feel safe and secure
Needing to feel safe and secure is a basic human need. When you feel like you’re in charge, you feel safe and secure. When we don’t feel like we’re in charge, we feel unsafe and uneasy.
Having a plan is one way to feel like you’re in charge. Knowing what to do in an emergency makes us feel more in charge. As a result, we feel safer and more at ease. This makes us want to make a plan for an emergency.
An emergency plan gives us a sense of being in charge. Why? Because it tells us exactly what to do in an emergency. It helps us feel less worried by giving us a step-by-step plan to follow. A simple emergency plan is knowing where to go and what to do if your house catches on fire.
Or it can be a more complicated plan. A plan that includes getting your family to a safe place if a natural disaster happens.
These are only a few instances of the several different kinds of drivers of motivation. And these have the potential to affect our behavior.
By gaining an understanding of what drives us, we can improve the decisions we make in life and work. Decisions toward accomplishing the objectives we set for ourselves.
Motivational Drivers are Unique and Personal
Motivational drivers for each one of us individually are entirely unique. Some are more driven by the desire to serve people or make a positive change in the world. While others want to gain fame and money for themselves.
Some are driven by the prospect of facing new challenges, such as expanding their knowledge or taking on more responsibility. Regardless of the specific reasons that drive each of us, it is essential to keep in mind that if we put our minds to it, each one of us is capable of doing remarkable things if we so choose to.
Don’t be frightened to pursue your ambitions and dream great dreams for yourself. It is important to know what drives us.