Why intrinsic motivation doesn't work

Blogpost by Hermina Van Coillie.

For years, organizations and leaders have been chasing one holy grail: intrinsic motivation.The idea sounds simple: if people do something because they “truly want to,” they’ll be more engaged, creative, and resilient.

But here’s the truth nobody dares to say out loud: intrinsic motivation alone doesn’t work.

The problem with intrinsic motivation

• People don’t always enjoy their work. Many tasks are simply not “fun.”

• Waiting for intrinsic motivation means you’ll often wait forever.

• It reduces motivation to liking something, and ignores the bigger picture of what gives people energy.

When you tell managers “make it intrinsically motivating,” they feel stuck. How do I make administration fun? How do I make compliance joyful? 

Spoiler: you can’t.

What really works: High Quality Motivation

Instead of asking “Do they like it?”, the better question is:“Do they find it meaningful?”

High Quality Motivation comes in different flavors:

• Sometimes it’s intrinsic (I do it because it’s fun).

• But more often, it’s purpose-driven (I do it because it matters).

• Or relational (I do it because I feel connected to my team).

• Or growth-oriented (I do it because it helps me develop).

• And always: without any form of pressure

In short: all motivation comes from within, but not all of it has to be “fun” to be sustainable.

The shift leaders must make

If you focus only on intrinsic motivation, you limit yourself.If you focus on High Quality Motivation, you open a world of strategies: aligning tasks with meaning, building real connection, and strengthening competence. This is where leaders make the difference: not by entertaining their teams, but by creating an environment where motivation flows naturally.

Intrinsic motivation is not the end goal.High Quality Motivation is.That’s how you get people moving – without pressure, without control, and without waiting for them to “like” every task.

Curious how High Quality Motivation could transform your team or organization? Check out the keynotes and workshops by Hermina Van Coillie.