> From: Lee Holmer <llh@seattleu.edu>
>
> Regarding Morty's comment--
>
> > >I'd like to propose a heretical notion: that there is no such thing as
> > >external motivation!!
>
> I couldn't agree more. I suspect that part of the confusion here comes
> from thinking of "intrinsic" motivation as inhering in the person, when
> actually the term refers to qualities which are inherent in the task.
>
> Thus extrinsic, or external rewards refer to factors which come from
> outside the task itself, such as the boss's approval, money, promotion or
> demotion, etc. Intrinsic, or internal rewards, arise directly from
> aspects of the task, and include things such as the senses of completion,
> creativity, autonomy, social service, etc. Whether or not the person is
> "motivated" by these feelings in an independent question, anwered by the
> internal make-up of the person.
>
> So if the twin concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic are seen as related to
> the task, not the person, it fits that the actual "motivation" exists
> exclusively within the person.
Thanks for your conmment because it gives me a chance to clarify what I
meant.
I would suggest that neither what you call external or internal rewards
are the real source of people's behavior. One set of beliefs about
"completion, creativity ... etc." would produce one behavior, another set
of beliefs, another behavior. E.g., "I am creative" vs. "I am not
creative." But how we react to the boss' approval, monetary rewards, etc.
is also a function of beliefs. If you are a manager and really believe
that workers must be told exactly what to do and how to do it, and then
watched like a hawk to make sure the job gets done, you will be a top down
autocractic boss even if your own CEO "orders" you to be an empowering
leader, asking instead of telling, etc. You will not do what your boss
tells you to do if you have beliefs that restrict such behavior.
Morty Lefkoe
For information about the Decision Maker(R) Institute and
my book, Re-Create Your Life: Transforming Yourself and
Your World, visit http://decisionmaker.com
--"decisionmaker.com" <Morty@decisionmaker.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>