Fall 2024 - 18

REWARDS &
MOTIVATION TACTICS
How extrinsic and intrinsic motivation can improve performance
By Daniel Borowick, MS, CSCS, founder of DOMEX Strength and Fitness,
former DEA Special Agent
R
ewards and motivation
tactics are interchangeable
and they feed off one another.
Whether it is a tactical or
sports athlete, a child, or an
employee in the workplace,
we all are motivated to receive
awards. Rewards bring about achievement no
matter where we interact with others.
These awards are typically extrinsic, however,
the motivation can be intrinsic also. Let's dive a
little deeper into this topic to see the difference.
So, what is motivation and is it more important to
be motivated or disciplined?
Motivation implies providing an incentive or
influence to get a desired outcome for the benefit
of the organization or entity. When it comes to
athleticism for the tactical and sports athlete,
changing one's behavior to become better is a
win both for the athlete and the department they
serve or the team they play on. However, for the
individual to effect change, they need to feel that
they intrinsically need to change their current level
18 | Tactical Training & Conditioning | Fall 2024
of fitness, weight, appearance, or for their medical
and/or cardiovascular condition.
Intrinsic motivation is when the individual has
the intestinal fortitude and tenacity to change for
the better. It is when they believe that a change
is warranted and the change needs to become
imminent. This change is not dictated primarily by
external motivation, (although it can be for a certain
time), but internally. This self-imposed energy to
change is their motivation. This motivation is based
upon emotion and can be reflected in their current
physical and mental readiness at that moment in life.
On the other side of the equation is external
motivation which is relatively easy when someone
needs to influence or incentivize another. If a
coach needs to have an athlete perform better by
achieving a new 1 repetition maximum or set a new
personal record (PR) in the 100-yard dash, and if
the athlete already enjoys that event or that exercise,
the motivating factor will not necessarily require a
reward. However, what happens when the athlete
does not seek a new PR or the tactical athlete does
not look to get a better score on their department's
Fall 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fall 2024
