Motivation is the drive to pursue goals and take action. But motivation also refers to the general reasons people have for acting in the ways that they do and making meaning in their lives. So, you can also think of it as your overall willingness to do something or your desire to change something — and the feeling of being ready to make those changes. When you make a decision, motivation is what propels you to act on it. It’s an important concept in human behavior and psychology, and learning more about the fundamentals of motivation helps you foster a deeper understanding of yourself and others.

Why should I learn about motivation?

While being motivated can improve our lives because it helps us achieve what we want, understanding motivation gives us insight into the steps we can take to boost our motivation and use it to change outcomes for ourselves. It’s in our nature as people to want more — and to actively strive for and pursue it. Whether you’re looking to improve your ability to set and reach goals, foster new talents, engage in creative problem solving or gain skills, applying motivational science can make you more effective in accomplishing your objective. You’ll have a better understanding of the steps it takes to get there — a clearer path to success.

How can motivation drive my career goals?

Motivation is a tool you can call on any time, whether you need to reach a critical deadline, manage a project or earn a promotion. But it goes far beyond its designation as a practical tool. An understanding of motivation can be essential in just about any career you envision yourself enjoying. Want to teach motivation or inspire others in addition to putting it into practice in your own life? A career in counseling or life coaching can put you face to face with others whom you can guide to new heights in personal growth, helping them learn how to set and reach goals. But realizing progress isn’t the only great way to apply motivation in your career. Working with kids as a teacher or coach or in another position of youth support means you can influence new generations in positive ways by teaching them motivation skills they’ll develop and draw from throughout their lives. Motivation is useful everywhere, and that’s why you have virtually endless possibilities to apply it anywhere.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn motivation?

When you take our motivation courses online, you’ll learn how to make the choices that lead to more motivation. You’ll have the opportunity to take empowering classes that help you engage in creative problem solving and learn techniques you can apply in your own life or as an element of motivational leadership in your career. And you’ll be able to do all of this from the convenience and comfort of home on your own schedule — which leaves plenty of time for practicing your new (or newly reinforced) motivation skills throughout your daily life. Motivation isn’t just something inherent you wake up with one day that propels you to get to work. It’s a learnable (and teachable) skill that you can apply whenever you need to.

What are the benefits of taking an online Motivation course?

Online Motivation courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Motivation skills. Choose from a wide range of Motivation courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Motivation courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Motivation, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Motivation Courses - Learn Motivation Online

Explore the Motivation Course Catalog

Salesforce
Foundations for Interviewing with Confidence
Skills you'll gain: Verbal Communication Skills, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development, Communication, Telecommuting, Storytelling, Sales Development, Public Speaking, Professional Networking, Branding, Personal Attributes, LinkedIn, Professionalism, Relationship Building, Adaptability, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
78 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Enjoyable Econometrics
Skills you'll gain: Econometrics, Data Collection, Probability & Statistics, Regression Analysis, Survey Creation, Statistics, Quantitative Research, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Analysis, Forecasting, Correlation Analysis
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
119 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care
Skills you'll gain: Stress Management, Personal Development, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Awareness, Personal Care, Resilience, Mental Health, Lifelong Learning, Preventative Care, Self-Motivation, Behavioral Health, Psychology, Environment and Resource Management, Food and Beverage, Decision Making
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
243 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Intel
Fostering Engagement in the Age of Digital Distraction
Skills you'll gain: Teamwork, Collaboration, Creative Problem-Solving, Innovation, Motivational Skills, Technology Solutions
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado System
Overcoming Challenges in Self and Society
Skills you'll gain: Resilience, Personal Development, Growth Mindedness, Overcoming Obstacles, Community Development, Persistence, Adaptability, Empowerment, Lifelong Learning, Self-Awareness, Compassion, Empathy, Cultural Diversity, Environmental Issue
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of North Texas
Management Foundations in the Hospitality Industry
Skills you'll gain: Hospitality Management, Employee Training, Human Resources Management and Planning, Performance Appraisal, Leadership and Management, Team Motivation, Human Resources, Recruitment, Employee Performance Management, Employee Onboarding, Full Cycle Recruitment, Talent Acquisition, Job Analysis, Interviewing Skills
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
75 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Liderazgo y Pensamiento Crítico
Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking, Independent Thinking, Influencing, Organizational Leadership, Self-Awareness, Decision Making, Leadership, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Leadership and Management, Team Motivation, Leadership Development, Personal Development, Emotional Intelligence, Organizational Effectiveness, Organizational Development, Business Leadership, Positivity, Strategic Decision-Making, Systems Thinking, Knowledge Transfer
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
401 reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
American Council on Exercise
Personal Training: Sales and Client Retention
Skills you'll gain: Selling Techniques, Sales Strategy, Sales, Customer Retention, Sales Prospecting, Consultative Selling, Customer Acquisition Management, Customer and Client Support, Performance Measurement, Customer Relationship Building, Professional Development, Business Metrics, Community Development
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Salesforce
Conversational Selling Playbook for SDRs
Skills you'll gain: Overcoming Objections, Prospecting and Qualification, Lead Generation, Sales Development, Sales Prospecting, Cold Calling, Emotional Intelligence, Consultative Selling, Phone Sales, Selling Techniques, Sales Strategy, Rapport Building, Customer Relationship Building, Empathy, Active Listening, Persona Development
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
42 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Maryland, College Park
Persuasion and Presence for Program and Project Managers
Skills you'll gain: Executive Presence, Persuasive Communication, Influencing, Communication, Virtual Teams, Leadership, Media and Communications, Stakeholder Communications, Project Management, Program Management, Emotional Intelligence, Strategic Communication, Non-Verbal Communication, Presentations, Team Building
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
LearnQuest
Introduction to Java Enterprise Edition (EE)
Skills you'll gain: Java Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE), Application Deployment, Web Applications, Application Servers, Java, Web Servers, Application Development, Server Side, Network Protocols
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
70 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
LearnQuest
Spring - Cloud Overview
Skills you'll gain: Microservices, Spring Boot, Software Architecture, API Gateway, Spring Framework, Service Oriented Architecture, Load Balancing, Cloud Computing, Cloud Services, Software Design Patterns, Restful API
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
58 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks