2.03 Motivating

Motivation is the process of getting employees to strive to achieve management's objectives because they want to achieve them. In an ideal world, employees would want to reach the company’s goals just out of the goodness of their hearts—but that’s not how people are. Think about the reasons why you take certain actions. You study so you can get an A on a test and maintain a good grade point average. You practice ice-skating so you can be a better hockey player. You are a friendly cashier because you want to earn more tips. Your motivation is the reason you do the things you do. In the workplace, motivation keeps employees working hard and putting forth as much effort as they can to achieve their own goals.  

What motivates people? Many theories explain why people are motivated, but many of them are related to needs. A need is something that is required or essential that is lacking. According to these theories, everything you do is motivated by some need. Perhaps you need money to pay for gas, so you get a job after school. You might need to eat, so you go to the fridge and grab a snack. Or you might need to socialize, so you go over to a friend’s house to play video games.

Employees at work are also motivated by their needs. It’s up to managers to align company goals with employees’ needs. Let’s say a company has set a goal to grow its customer base by 25%. A manager could explain to employees that if they are able to achieve this goal, they will receive bonuses. Who wouldn’t be encouraged to work harder by the promise of a little extra money?

People are motivated by different things. Some prefer praise and recognition, others want financial rewards, and still others want to feel safe and stable. It’s important for managers to know what each employee’s needs are so that they can figure out how those needs fit in with their work.

Watch this quick video to learn about one of the most famous psychological theories about needs: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Links to an external site.

Motivating also includes helping people develop their skills and become better at their jobs. Employees who are given training and development will feel more confident in their abilities and will be more efficient. Managers need to provide these opportunities as a means of motivation.