The Reiss Motivation Profile identifies 16 basic desires of human nature. It provides a scientific look at motivation.
These desires “determine our core values, drive our behavior, and give rise to our personality traits,” according to the introduction on the RMP website.
They are the result of Dr. Steven Reiss’s assessment of the motivators of over 160,000 people across six continents.
The Sixteen Basic Desires of Human Nature
As you review them, see which desires are most important for you.
- Acceptance: the desire for positive self-regard
- Beauty: the desire for aesthetically appealing experiences
- Curiosity: the desire for understanding
- Eating: the desire to consume food
- Family: the desire to raise children and spend time with siblings
- Honor: the desire for upright character
- Idealism: the desire for social justice
- Independence: the desire for self-reliance
- Order: the desire for structure and stability
- Physical activity: the desire for muscle exercise
- Power: the desire for influence of will
- Saving: the desire to collect things
- Social contact: the desire for companionship with peers
- Status: the desire for respect based on social standing
- Tranquility: the desire to avoid experiencing anxiety and pain
- Vengeance: the desire to confront those who frustrate or offend us
My Analysis
As I consider them, I know that I am motivated to different degrees by acceptance, beauty, curiosity, eating (!), family, idealism, independence, physical activity, tranquility and vengeance.
Since I’ve been a solopreneur for 40 years, I’d say that my strongest motivators have been independence and curiosity.
If I were hiring someone to work with me, I would look for someone motivated by acceptance, curiosity, honor, independence, order, and social contact.
I would, therefore, need to structure my pre-screening to determine the applicants’ motivators based on their responses to situational questions.
It seems to me that an understanding of these 16 basic desires can also help us to communicate more persuasively if we know the other person’s motivators.
If you’d like more information or to take the assessment, I suggest that you go to the RMP website.
And if your employees seem to lack motivation, please schedule time for a free 30-minute strategy session with me: http://bit.ly/44yLO5l
