Intrinsic motivation comes from feeling emotions, task commitment, ownership and job satisfaction
PAKORA, GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The word ‘motivation’ means a vigour that drives individuals to behave in a specific way. It is influenced by external as well as internal factors, which are known as extrinsic and intrinsic motivations respectively. Employees’ motivation is said to be the driving force of an organisation, in order to steer it to the desired destination.
Intrinsic motivation comes from feeling emotions, task commitment, ownership and job satisfaction that eventually increase performance and productivity. Literature shows that autonomy, mastery and connection are mostly associated with intrinsic motivation. Autonomy is a choice in what one does and includes less monitoring by a manager. Mastery is the feeling of competence in one’s domain and achievements, while connection is about a sense of purpose in what one does and how it relates to other people. Hence, it is vital for managers in every institution to raise employees’ intrinsic motivation in order to accomplish organisational goals.
However, sometimes departmental or institutional heads lack knowledge and skills regarding contextual realities and individual psychology, as workers are dealt autocratically. In response to harsh behaviour of managers, subordinates are motivated only superficially and become unaffected by any changes. Studies suggest it is vital for managers to create a strong working relationship, where employees feel safe and confident. They should feel proud of their progress and connected with their work to take ownership of it.
Nevertheless, there is no single recipe to motivate employees, as empirical data recommends striking a balance between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Research also reveals that intrinsic motivation is missing in most of the managers’ tool kit when dealing with employees. Extrinsic factors like reward and punishment are mostly used, which fail to sustain workers’ behavioural change for long periods of time. Therefore, strong communication, positive interpersonal skills and feedback can inspire intrinsic motivation in employees.
Karim Muhammad Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2019.
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