Intrinsic, Extrinsic motivation, Self determination theory and me
When i joined the work-world, I had a diligent BOSS, Who supervised, rewarded based on what was needed for his goals to be completed. Getting rewarded, recognised became an easy way to hack — where i needed to go. And also there was the cash part, better salary, promotions etc.
At some point there was a realisation, that something was not working. Being a graphic, visual designer, at the time, it was difficult to ascertain what was good and what was not. Wanting to make it more objective, i moved streams into the world of interaction design, now called user experience design.
in the hindsight, probably i was not that great at visual design, or understood it well enough at the time.
So i jumped ships at times, from graphic design to interaction design, from consulting to product, from established to startups, looking for exactly what I want or need.
After a point, I got into the exact thing that made me happy and productive. and Let me burn enough midnight oil. I also realised i was intrinsically motivated.
But as you grow, it becomes, more and more difficult to get feedback — which is key to intrinsic motivation. Sometimes your bosses are too busy, sometimes they are not from design. And also as you grow in different parts of the organisation results become more qualitatively measured.
I chanced on gamification design, at sometime, and read these two words — intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. I thought i stepped on gold, at that time.
Let me inroduce intrinsic and extrinsic motivation here.
In other words, if something external produces a result to accomplish a behavior, its extrinsic, and if it is internal its intrinsic. If you offer me, a beer, i am going to get the design done in 2 hours, or if i really have the urge within to hack the design pattern and create something amazing for the pure thrill of being very good at it.
Back to me. The question prevailed. if nobody is looking, and nobody is rewarding, In intrinsic way — which are my drivers, why do I, do something.
Thats when i stepped on self determination theory, through google search after search, keyword after keyword discovery.
It again talks about how people make choices on what to do. Would I go through tough situations or effort to achieve something. It also highlight three aspects — mastery, autonomy, and connectedness, for an individual to self motivate into doing something.
I set back to my canvas — my google doc and noted down everything that motivated me. Good for the longer term, and well being or short term. From trekking, to trips, to partying, writing an article, doing a project, or helping some one out.
I also started annotating, do i do this often or once in a while. What’s the maximum fulfilment i feel from things, in form of dopamine, and better well being. And from there began my journey, here are the things that are really amazing, and i should do more of them, and here are things i can do a little bit less.
Okay back to all of us. Its important to have a way to understand ourselves, understanding why we do, what we do.
Here’s a simple grid! try it out in your own google doc, notion, figma, or paper.
The grid, captures intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, along with corresponding rewards, positive/ negative impact, and an understanding of the long term impact. Below this list, we have a start. stop, continue — styled in retrospective manner, which helps you prioritise, what to do next.
here’s the link to the google document
A lot more happen’s post this. As you have to learn ways to do things that are good and make you feel happy, but are not addictive, and take some amount of effort to achive.
Somethings should be chased — things that make you better self — a giver, mastery at something, teacher. Somethings should happen as a result of your better self — position, status, love, admiration, income etc .
leave you with this,
after the battle comes the reward — Latin proverb
and this!
the universe rewards you for calculated risk and passion — Joe Rogan
