motivator

A motivator is something that arouses action or energy, or a person who inspires or encourages others to act. It can be an internal drive or an external stimulus, such as goals, rewards, feedback, or an influential leader’s example.

In psychology, motivators influence behavior by triggering intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivators include interest, challenge, personal growth, and autonomy; extrinsic motivators include recognition, pay, promotions, and other rewards. The concept is integrated into several motivational theories, including Herzberg’s two-factor theory (where motivators are factors that increase job satisfaction) and Self-Determination Theory (which emphasizes autonomy, competence, and relatedness as core drivers of motivation).

In organizational and educational contexts, motivators are used to enhance performance, persistence, and engagement. Approaches include goal setting, constructive feedback, recognition programs, job design that increases responsibility and variety, and incentive schemes. Researchers examine how different motivators interact with individual differences and situational factors.

People who serve as motivators include teachers, coaches, managers, and motivational speakers—individuals who inspire effort, articulate a vision, or model desired behaviors for others.

In other uses, motivator can refer to an entity that provides motive power or impulse. This usage is rarer, and terms such as motor, drive, or propulsion subsystem are more common in engineering contexts.