Intrinsic motivation

Welcome. We're discussing intrinsic motivation, a foundational concept in psychology, education, leadership, and organizational life. Research shows that the kind of motivation matters just as much, if not more than how much motivation a person has. Intrinsic motivation means doing an activity for its inherent satisfaction or interest, not for an external reward. In contrast, extrinsic motivation centers on earning rewards, avoiding punishment, or gaining approval. To understand what fuels intrinsic motivation, we look to self determination theory by psychologists Edward Deas and Richard Ryan. This theory states that three basic psychological needs must be satisfied, autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy is the sense of controlling our actions. Competence is feeling effective and capable. Relatedness is feeling meaningful connection to others. Meting these needs leads to greater engagement, creativity, and satisfaction. In the workplace, intrinsic motivation is linked to greater innovation, creative problem solving, and well being. When people can make meaningful choices, develop skills, and collaborate, they become more invested and productive. Leaders play a crucial role, providing autonomy like flexible schedules or goal setting, recognizing achievements, and building trust help foster motivation. Encouraging challenging projects and supporting growth is key. Research shows fostering intrinsic motivation leads to higher performance