Siblings punch each other. It is a moral imperative to determine that day's victor. As welts begin to form, as bruises begin to darken, as blood drenches the carpet, at some point, parents must intervene. How do you motivate a child to act more kindly to their biological roommate?
Employees will perform exceptionally. And when they do, how will you reward them as a sign of appreciation? How can you reward them in a way that sustains their momentum?
The majority of books on leadership, parenting, and psychology divide motivation into two types: extrinsic and intrinsic. This is a simple bullet point that offers a lot of mileage. We can consider the content of goals and the reasons for pursuing goals. For instance, your goals might be driven by "extrinsic" goal content (financial success, appearing attractive to others, being known or admired by many people) or "intrinsic" goal content (being fulfilled and having a very meaningful life, having close and caring relationships with others). In several studies, scientists have shown that people who prioritize intrinsic over extrinsic goal content experience greater well-being.
