Upon release, "Motivation" received favorable reviews from critics generally praising the sexiness of the song.

In the United States, the song has peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart where it stayed seven weeks in a row, and number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rowland's second US top 20 hit (fourth top 30 overall) and her second highest performing single to date as a solo artist, behind "Dilemma".

It follows a number of sultry scenes where Rowland dances seductively amongst partially dressed dancers in a dimly-lit warehouse, with the entire video tinged in blue light.

[5] Speaking of how the record came about, Rowland said "Motivation came about when I was in the studio with [producers] Jim Jonsin and Rico Love, and we kind of were just vibing.

"[6] Along with the single announcement, Rap-Up said fans could expect the video and a remix produced by Diplo to premiere in April 2011.

[7] "Motivation" is an R&B slow jam and electropop song written by Richard Butler (Rico Love), Jim Jonsin, Dwayne Carter and Danny Morris.

[5][8] The racy lyrics center around Rowland asking her man to use his hands all over her body, and are accompanied by a "synth-saturated beat" produced by Jonsin.

[5] In terms of instruments, "Motivation" uses sparse keyboard notes, programmed beats and pulsing synths in the chorus.

[10] Wayne adds a rap verse complementing Rowland's seductive suggestions, using the kitchen and a car as metaphors for sex.

[4] When asked by MTV what Rowland thought of the song, she said,"It has that personality and characteristic to it that I don't think anybody can deny.

In his review, he said "The single is a big leap from the dance club synth pop that Kelly has been releasing the past year and it seems like she might be trying to shimmy her way back into the hip-hop world by teaming up with the Midas touch vocals of Lil Wayne.

The short review was summed up with the closing phrase, "she's going to need another hit to help promote her album when it finally is ready to drop.

Rowland, whose sultry voice could get a priest hot, weaving in and out of the minimal beat, and setting the table for Lil Wayne's stuttering, after-hours guest-verse.

"[13] Shahryar Rizvi of Dallas Observer felt that the song was a "female-fronted counterpart" to the smooth, slow-tempo R&B vibe that R. Kelly and Trey Songz usually proffer.

[32] Additionally, it is the first single from Rowland to chart on the Hot 100 since her 2009 feature on David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over", which reached number seventy-six.

[38] The video opens in a blue-colored hue lit warehouse, with Rowland standing in the passageway before it cuts to her walking through the building checking out the ladies and men mingling.

Rowland can then be seen in a purple swimsuit & coat, doing different sexual choreography routines with her many half-dressed male backup dancers.

He can then be seen leaning against a wall and standing on a bed with the lights flashing while Rowland is simultaneously being entertained by a male dancer as she sits upon a chair.

[48] Appearing in the middle of Trey Songz performance of "Love Faces," Rowland ascended on stage where she was joined by several shirtless male dancers.

[49] The performance was met with a positive reception from industry critics and fellow music entertainers, most of whom noted it as a highlight of the ceremony.

"[49] Roger Catlin said that Rowland offered "a live performance with Trey Songz trumping that of her more famous 'sister' from Destiny's Child, Beyoncé.

"[50] The Los Angeles Times' Gerrick D. Kennedy praised Rowland's sex appeal, noting that her "steamy performance sent tongues wagging" and was widely anticipated thanks to the serial delays with her album Here I Am (2011).

[55] Rowland performed the song during her guest appearance on The Wendy Williams Show on June 24, 2013 along with "Kisses Down Low" and "Street Life".