How do we really know what motivates people? Is it really as subjective as people speculate?
Motivation in the human brain is really quite simple - the motivation for performance by choice is directly influenced by reward areas of the mesolimbic region as well as the learning-related hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. This means that when we need to recall something for later use, our motivation to do so is directly influenced by the reward for us doing it. Low reward = low motivation. High reward = high motivation.
Recent studies have shown that even the anticipation of a desired reward can have teh same motivation value as actually recieveing it.
Now, here's the rub - just when we think motivation is as simple as reward - the perception of reward is solely defined by the recipient and is based on their biology, their experiences and their learning. Sometimes they don't even know what it is! Ever have one of those days when you feel jazzed by a job well done? That's the satisfaction of reward that drives your motivation. Now try to figure out exactly what got you there so you can repeat it? Good luck in defining it.
So, in motivating others, get them to reflect on times they felt most satisfied at work. Map what they are doing as similar to that time and let them at it. Recalling the satisfaction of their reward, fosters anticipation of receiving it again, which fuels motiavtion.
Now, if they have never felt that way? Good luck....
