On a bright and sunny day, four new volunteers arrived at a
village to build a bridge across the river. The locals were impressed by the
dedication and selflessness of the young men. Suresh was determined to
distinguish himself as a good worker to impress the supervisor and secure
his bid to win a place on the Students' Council. Soon Hock relished the
freedom he felt after years of being in an oppressive family and wanted to
prove himself as a hero. Melvin, who was extremely unpopular in school,
wanted to feel part of something significant and was glad to be a volunteer.
Akmal, who hated supervising such missions, came only to fulfill the
community service requirement for the 'Outstanding Teacher of the Year'
award.
Suresh, Soon Hock, and Melvin were motivated by their desire to make a
difference, be part of something significant, and feel better about
themselves. They were driven by intrinsic motivation, where the motivation
comes from within, and the reward is the satisfaction of accomplishing a
task. On the other hand, Akmal was motivated by extrinsic motivation, where
the motivation comes from external factors like rewards, recognition, or
avoiding punishment.
The motivations behind volunteering can be categorized into intrinsic and
extrinsic motivations. Intrinsic motivations are driven by an individual's
desire to make a difference, be part of something significant, or gain
personal satisfaction. In contrast, extrinsic motivations are driven by
external factors such as rewards, recognition, or avoidance of punishment.
Volunteers who are intrinsically motivated have a strong desire to make a
positive difference and find fulfillment in their work. They often take on
challenging tasks, work hard, and put in extra effort because they find
personal satisfaction in doing so. They are more likely to be committed to
their work, stay longer, and produce better results.
Volunteers who are extrinsically motivated, on the other hand, are driven by
external rewards, such as recognition, or the avoidance of punishment. They
may not find the work itself intrinsically rewarding and may not be as
committed to their work as volunteers who are intrinsically motivated.
It is essential to understand the motivations behind volunteering to ensure
that volunteers are effectively engaged and motivated. Organizations that
rely on volunteers should ensure that their work aligns with the volunteer's
motivations to ensure that they feel fulfilled and satisfied with their
work. This can be achieved by providing opportunities for volunteers to make
meaningful contributions, recognizing their efforts, and providing
opportunities for personal and professional growth.
In conclusion, the motivations behind volunteering play a crucial role in
determining the effectiveness of the volunteer's work. Volunteers who are
intrinsically motivated are more likely to be committed to their work and
produce better results, while volunteers who are extrinsically motivated may
not be as committed. Understanding the motivations of volunteers is
essential to ensure that they are effectively engaged and motivated, leading
to a more successful volunteer program. |