Motivation is defined as the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving a certain way. Motivation is inside out – never outside in. Everyone is self-motivated. Everyone does things for their own reasons. You can’t make someone do something that they don’t want to do unless you have something that they want. If you know their WIIFM – What’s In It For Me – and you have the power to grant it, you can use that understanding to get them to do what you want them to do. Offering the carrot while showing them the stick always yields better results. It’s time to rethink motivation.
Worth Remembering – It is only when a person has their own generator that we can talk about motivation. They need no outside stimulation. They want to do it. – Herzberg.
The thing about motivation is that everyone can be motivated. But not everyone is motivated by the same thing in the same way. Some people are motivated by money. Some are motivated by fancy job titles or that premier parking spot in front of the building. According to Daniel Pink, author of ‘Drive – The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us’, for some, autonomy is key. They want complete autonomy over when, where and how they perform their work. That’s why forcing people to go back to the office five days a week isn’t working. If they aren’t getting their WIIFM, they aren’t motivated enough to come back.
Worth Remembering – The common wisdom is that managers need to learn how to motivate people. Nonsense – People bring their own motivation. – Tom Peters.
Mason got it right. Abraham Maslow first introduced his ‘Needs’ theory in his 1943 article published in the Psychological Review entitled, ‘A Theory of Human Motivation.’. The basis of his ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ theory was that all human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs. His theory provides a framework for understanding human motivation and behaviour. Think of his hierarchy as a triangle or pyramid with five levels. Once the needs in the lower tier of the triangle are met, such as food and security, we move on to satisfy the higher tiers, including self-esteem and self-actualization – a process of fulfilling our full potential and becoming the best version of ourselves.
Worth Remembering – The Motivation Equation. Needs plus goal-directed behaviour equals your WIIFM. – Brian Smith.
What’s your WIIFM? What’s the reason or reasons you do what you do and act the way you behave? If you aren’t getting your WIIFM, then you need to change the way you are going about it. You need to act and behave in a way that will get you what you want. Sometimes, that means doing one thing to get another. It’s time to rethink motivation.
Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced in any form without written permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker or planning a training session at your location? Brian works with people who want to learn how to communicate and interact more effectively with others, build collaborative teams, resolve conflicts or motivate people to perform at their best.
Enhancing Lives & Transforming Leadership 