Extrinsic Motivation
What is Extrinsic Motivation?
Extrinsic motivation refers to the drive to perform an activity or task based on external rewards or incentives, such as bonuses, recognition, or promotions. It contrasts with intrinsic motivation, where the motivation comes from within, such as personal satisfaction or a sense of achievement.
Why It's Important
Extrinsic motivation plays a crucial role in employee recognition programs because it helps incentivize certain behaviors or achievements. When employees are rewarded for meeting goals or demonstrating desired behaviors, they are more likely to repeat these actions, leading to increased performance and engagement.
Extrinsic Motivation in Practice
An example of extrinsic motivation is an employee who works extra hours to complete a project ahead of schedule to earn a performance bonus or an award. This external reward motivates the employee to continue performing well.
Benefits of Leveraging Extrinsic Motivation
- Encourages employees to meet specific targets or milestones.
- Reinforces desired behaviors by linking them to tangible rewards.
- Helps foster a competitive and high-performance work environment.
Best Practices for Using Extrinsic Motivators
- Ensure rewards are meaningful and desirable to employees.
- Align extrinsic rewards with company goals and values.
- Use a variety of rewards to keep employees engaged and motivated.