Do you have a why?
What’s your reason to get out of bed in the morning?
For a better life? For your partner? Your mom or dad? Your kids?
Why?
We all need inspiration and motivation at some point in our lives.
You may have heard of the old saying: "Where there is a will there's a way."
It's a reminder to inspire and motivate us to continue working and remain committed to our goals in life.
Many people might think these two words mean the same thing. But they're two different concepts.
The Difference between Motivation and Inspiration
What's the definition of motivation?
Motivation is the reason or purpose for which you do something.
The term motivation comes from the Latin word "motivus", meaning "a thing that gives rise to motion, or a reason for doing something".
Motivation is the driving force that gives someone a reason to achieve a goal. This external stimulation usually results from the need for a reward or to avoid punishment.
So, to have motivation, you need a motive. This motive is usually something people are willing to work toward to obtain it. This can be a goal, such as a promotion at work, or it could be an object of personal desire like the latest smartphone.
What's the definition of inspiration?
Inspiration comes from the Latin word "inspirare", meaning "to breathe in" and means to have your breath taken away by wonder or admiration. In other words, it's a feeling of "inner enlightenment" that's embedded deep within your soul.
Inspiration is a pulling force that influences psychological or emotional change in a person to do something productive or creative.
What is Motivation?
How many times have you heard people say, "I want to be more motivated"?
Or "I must do more...". Or at least "I should be more...".
But here's the thing. They simply can't be bothered.
They have no inner desire to do it. To them, it's a chore. Something to be avoided.
To get that thing done, they need something external to force them into doing it.
Motivation is that kick in the pants you need, to get your lazy ass going.
Put simply, it's the external driving force pushing you forward.
External motivators include struggling to meet an important deadline, and the pain of the consequences of failure.
Motivation is like a drug. It hooks you, carries a big price. But it's only temporary. The feeling never lasts, and you always need to keep going back for more. It's usually associated with a lot of pain.
Motivation comes from your mind.
Take a few minutes out and ask yourself: "What's my motivation"?
What is Inspiration?
Inspiration is that burning desire, a deep-rooted belief that comes from within you, that's always there. This inner spark is fueled by your love for friends and family. It's your personal drive to move forward with your lifetime goals. It's something that you draw upon for internal strength in times of need.
Inspiration is a passion that stirs your soul and stimulates your mind. When you've been inspired, you effortlessly do what's needed, without being forced.
For instance, when you have a sudden burst of productivity (or creativity) that was inspired by someone or something else through your senses. This trigger could be something tangible like a piece of art. Inspiration can come from nature or art; it is often the result of an individual's creativity. The arts inspire us with their beauty and culture: they evoke feelings and emotions through paintings, sculptures, sculptures, books, music, movies, etc.
Think of all the people who have been inspired by the Rocky movies. You've watched 'those' videos on YouTube, right?
Inspiration comes from your heart.
Motivation vs Inspiration
Inspiration means having the deep "desire" to take action. Motivation is much more about giving people actual "reasons" for them to take action.
Both are needed. Some people need an incentive or a rational explanation for them to react positively (extrinsic motivation), rather than the emotional effect (intrinsic motivation).
The challenge for an effective leader is when to use motivation or inspiration.
Motivating people externally by using positive incentives (or negative threats), but still having the ability to enter their hearts. That is where change really happens.
By inspiring people, you're going straight to their heart. You're stirring something deep within them. This makes people want to change themselves from the inside - out. This is more sustainable, as it's a deeper, longer-term change.
But motivation is shorter term. You have to keep getting more from some place outside of yourself.
To achieve more, you need to feel inspired, and to inspire others (not motivation).
Motivation vs Inspiration - As a Leader or Entrepreneur
What is Inspirational Leadership?
Inspirational leaders understand the importance of each individual employee, so focus on getting to know them on a person-to-person level. They pay attention to team member's needs as well as letting them know what's expected of them. Inspiring managers communicate the company’s core values and mission, building and sustaining the morale of those they lead. This type of leadership is geared towards cultivating a positive attitude in their team, to do meaningful work that contributes to society.
What are the motivating factors at play? What about the inspirational factors? What exactly keeps the team member's flame of desire burning? A good manager will make it their business to know.
Inspirational leadership can change an employee’s internal mindset. As they begin to understand that their contribution makes a real difference, motivation starts to come from within.
Which is Best?
How people are encouraged can vary. Some through inspiration, others by motivation. Some respond well to inspirational leadership. While other people prefer motivating words and actions. By knowing your individual team members, you will know whether to inspire or motivate them.
According to research from the American Psychological Association, finding meaning in one's work is a greater predictor of satisfaction and career growth than any other factor. Workers who had a higher sense of calling in their job (internal motivation), were the most content.
A study by BetterUp found workers who had a higher sense of belonging had job performance rates that were 56 percent higher and a 75 percent reduction in sick days. For a medium to large company, the savings could be in the millions.
External motivation like this (providing a sense of fulfilment) can be effective at improving employee productivity rates, but it's only a short-term thing. Once an employee feels they've reached as high as they can go within your organization, they often get frustrated and look for greener pastures.
Ultimately, it’s both motivation and inspiration that will help your employees be happier and more satisfied in their work environment.
A leader shouldn't rely on only inspiration or motivation.
They work together. You should use both to create a successful working environment for your team.
By combining motivation with inspiration, you can cover everyone's needs. For longer lasting results, you can use inspiration alongside motivation to create internal change in your team members to support your vision. It's an on-going process, not a one-time thing.
To encourage long-term engagement, you need to do more than simply motivate. You need to inspire.
A happy, thriving and motivated workforce is a productive one that has a positive impact on your business profitability.