What no one tells you when you first begin working towards your dreams is that motivation is the key to everything. Without at least one of the types of motivation, there will be no fuel to start the fire. You would have no drive to achieve anything, and there would be no reason to move forward.

If you’re looking to achieve your goals and you need some help, learn the 9 types of motivation that can make it possible to reach your dreams.

Before we dive into the different types of motivation, you’re recommended to take the free assessment What’s Your Motivation Style? and identify your own motivation style first. By taking this assessment, you understand more about yourself and know how to play to the strengths of your motivation style and make your dreams happen! Take the assessment now!

Now, let’s learn about the motivation types:

The Two Main Types of Motivation

Different types of motivation generally fall into two main categories.

1. Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is a type of motivation in which an individual is motivated by internal desires and is satisfied when internally rewarded.

For example, let’s say an individual named Bob has set himself a goal to begin losing weight and becoming healthier. Let’s also imagine that Bob’s reason to pursue this path of fitness and wellness is to improve his health overall and feel better about his appearance.

Since Bob’s desire to change comes from within, his motivation is intrinsic. Learn more about intrinsic motivation in this Fast-Track Class – Activate Your Motivation. It’s a free session that will guide you to find your inner motivation and make it sustainable. Join the free class now!

2. Extrinsic Motivation

Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is a type of motivation in which an individual is motivated by external desires or extrinsic rewards.

Rather than being motivated by the need to look better and feel healthier, let’s say that Bob was feeling pressure from his wife to slim down and improve his physique, both external factors.

Since this pressure comes from an outside source, this is an example of extrinsic motivation.

Find out more about external motivation: What Is External Motivation And How to Make Good Use of It?

Minor Forms of Motivation

All types of motivation are going to fall into one of the two categories above. Now that we’ve covered these and provided you with some examples, here are minor types of motivation that are capable of making a big impact in your life.

3. Reward-Based Motivation or Incentive Motivation

Incentive motivation or reward-based motivation is a type of motivation that is utilized when you or others know that they will receive a reward once a certain goal is achieved^[1].

Because there will be something to look forward to at the end of a task, people will often become more determined to see the task through so that they can receive whatever it is that has been promised.

The better the reward, the stronger the motivation will be!

4. Fear-Based Motivation

The word “fear” carries a heavy negative connotation, but when it comes to motivation, this is not necessarily the case. Anyone who is big on goal-setting and achievement knows that accountability plays a huge role in following through on goals.

When you become accountable either to someone you care about or to the general public, you create a motivation for yourself that is rooted in the fear of failure or the fear of disappointing others. This fear helps you carry out your vision so that you do not fail in front of those who are aware of your goal.

Fear-based motivation is extremely powerful as long as the fear is strong enough to prevent you from quitting.

5. Achievement-Based Motivation

Titles, positions, and roles in jobs and other areas of our lives are very important to us. Those who are constantly driven to acquire these positions and earn titles for themselves are typically dealing with achievement-based motivation.

Whereas those who use incentive motivation to focus on the rewards that come after a goal is met, those who use achievement-based motivation focus on reaching a goal for the sake of achievement and the feeling of accomplishment that goes with it.

Those who need a boost in their professional life will find achievement-based motivation extremely helpful.

6. Power-Based Motivation

Those who find happiness in becoming more powerful or creating massive change will definitely be fueled by power-based motivation.

Power-based motivation is a type of motivation that energizes others to seek more control, typically through the use of positions in employment or organizations.

Although it may seem to be a bad thing, power motivation is great for those who wish to change the world around them based on their personal vision.

If you’re looking to make changes, power-based motivation may just be the way to go.

7. Affiliation Motivation

People often say that it’s not what we do but who we know that dictates our success. For people driven by affiliation motivation, this is most certainly true.

Those who use affiliation motivation as a driving force to meet their goals thrive when they connect with others in higher power positions than themselves^[2].

They also thrive when those people compliment the work that they do, as well as their achievements. Therefore, affiliation motivation is a great force to help you achieve your social goals and move up in the world.

8. Competence Motivation

Have you always sought to continuously improve your skills and talents? Is one of your goals to learn how to do your job better or improve at your hobby? If so, you may be in need of some competence motivation.

Competence motivation is a type of motivation that helps others to push forward and become more competent in a certain area and improve their skills.

This type of motivation is especially helpful when it comes to learning new skills and figuring out ways around obstacles that one is faced with in different areas of life.

9. Attitude Motivation

A problem with our attitude, perspectives, and beliefs is an issue that many of us face. It can become a problem regarding how we move through life to the point that we begin to lose our happiness and miss out on our dreams.

For those of you who are missing out on life because of your attitude, attitude motivation is one of the best types of motivation to help you to recover and move forward properly.

Attitude motivation is a kind of motivation that comes to those who intensely desire to change the way that they see the world around them and the way that they see themselves. Goals associated with self-awareness and self-change will be met with attitude motivation.

Final Thoughts

Motivation is absolutely vital if you want to achieve your dreams. Using the 9 types of motivation mentioned above, nothing will be able to stand in the way of you and your goals any longer. Identify what you are trying to achieve in life and which type of motivation will be most likely to get you there.