Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

[Listen to an audio version of this blog here.]

I once had a running coach whose primary method of motivation was to either shame or denigrate. He almost never gave anyone positive affirmation, and that method probably worked for some of his athletes. But for as many people who need someone to constantly push them, there are just as many people who push themselves hard enough. When my coach said things like “you can do better,” he was only echoing what I already thought. His words didn’t motivate me further, rather, they had the perverse effect of de-motivating me.

It took me some time to realize that nobody holds me to a higher standard than I hold myself. I almost always think I could do more. My old coach applied the same method to all of his athletes, and in doing so, pushed some of his athletes to be as fast as they’d ever been. He pushed me to a point of over-training, which comes with a decrease in performance. A more aware coach would have realized the differences in his athletes. Instead of treating us all the same, he would have adjusted his coaching style. Coaching is a profession that requires a fair amount of emotional intelligence. Just as there are bad cops, bad doctors, and bad lawyers, there are bad coaches (and plenty of good ones). Although this is obvious, it is a reality that feels foreign in today’s chaotic and extremist landscape.