Intrinsic Motivation: Team Mastery for Managers

Much research and many popular books have been directed toward understanding the pursuit and achievement of mastery. A common understanding has emerged that mastery is more directly dependent upon the amount of time devoted toward deliberate practice. In mature skill areas, mastery can require 10,000 hours or more of deliberate practice. An organization or team filled with members who are committed toward achieving mastery is both desirable and elusive regardless of the industry or field. The key to achievement of mastery on an organizational or team level is individual motivation. Historically, most motivational research and advice has focused on extrinsic motivation. Recently, research has focused more and more on the power of intrinsic motivation. Intrinsically motivating teams can seem complicated and even contradictory. However, understanding the practical sources of intrinsic motivation can help managers apply the principles to real-world situations and increase their team’s drive to achieve mastery.