4 Core Motivations of Life - Which One Are You?

Why did I write this post?

One of the most valuable pieces of leadership advice I've received is:

"You need to understand what motivates your team."

It's not merely advice; it's a principle.

Whether you're seeking to attract top talents, find a co-founder for your venture, or persuade investors to invest in your product, understanding motivations is key.

However, this principle extends far beyond leadership and management.

It is the crux of how you can succeed in almost everything! 🚀

4 Core Motivations by the CIA

There are four core motivations that the CIA instructs field agents to identify in every human asset. They employ the acronym R-I-C-E to encapsulate these motivations.

• R stands for reward.

• I stands for ideology.

• C stands for coercion.

• E stands for ego.

They are relatively easy to comprehend.

A reward can be anything that motivates someone to work for you, whether it's money, praise, promotion or even a free vacation.

Ideology is what people believe in.

Coercion involves forcing someone through things like blackmail, guilt, or debt.

Ego doesn't refer to egotistical people but rather doing things a certain way because you want to be perceived in a particular manner.

These four motivations essentially define all human behavior everywhere at all times.

Self-evaluation

For instance, if you worked hard at school, was it due to the "coercion" of high expectations from your parents, the desire to be "perceived" as a smart kid, or a genuine belief in the knowledge you were acquiring?

Testing this is simple—if you don't remember much what you’ve learned from school, you probably weren't that interested at the time (so probably not “ideology”).

If you are thinking of quitting your job, transitioning to a new career, starting something of your own - whatever it may be - what’s driving you?

If you want to work with a client, persuade an investor, discipline your children, what’s driving them?

Why take time to think about this?

Of all the frameworks I've encountered, I find this one the most effective.

It applies to both yourself and your target.

Understanding yourself aids in making the right decisions for you.

Understanding your target helps in executing successfully.

As a technical founder and corporate leader, I understand profoundly how crucial it is to collaborate with “others”. As I gain more experience, I also recognize the significance of being able to work with “yourself”.

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Here’s the full explanation of this framework by former CIA Field Officer Andrew Bustamante: