The 3 Elements of Motivation
Human motivation comes from autonomy, difficulty, and recognition. If your motivation has dropped, examine whether there is a problem in any of the three areas.
- Autonomy:
- Am I solving the problem in the direction I have in mind? Or am I solving it the way someone else tells me to?
- Am I using my time as I please? Or am I unable to use it freely?
- Difficulty:
- Can I solve this problem if I work hard at it? Or is it unsolvable no matter how much effort I put in?
- Is this problem too easy for me?
- Is it something I’ve been doing every day?
- Recognition:
- When I solve this problem, do the people around me recognize me for it? Or am I the only one who knows?
- Enjoyment of the work:
- Are the people I work with engaging and fun?
- Meaning and perception of the work:
- Reframe the goals or intentions of the work.
To check whether any of the three elements of motivation is lacking, ask: “What can I do to better support you in giving your best?”
Links
- An exclusionary or blaming attitude is toxic
- Blame is the exact opposite of recognition.
- It is an attitude that gains more recognition from people similar to oneself, while losing recognition from those one blames.
- Two-Factor Theory
- There are also factors that eliminate motivation, and they are independent of the factors that create motivation.
- Things I Learn from Watching Hearthstone
- Hearthstone looks difficult at first glance, yet the people who play it put in an enormous amount of effort.
- (private:M230321_1 Intrinsic Motivation)
- Extrinsic motivation erodes long-term productivity.