Employee Motivation
Employee motivation is the level of energy, commitment, and creativity that a company’s workers bring to their jobs. Whether the economy is growing or shrinking, finding ways to motivate employees is always a management concern. Competing theories stress either incentives or employee involvement (empowerment). Employee motivation can sometimes be particularly problematic for small businesses. The owner has often spent years building a company hands-on and therefore finds it difficult to delegate meaningful responsibilities to others. But entrepreneurs should be mindful of such pitfalls: the effects of low employee motivation on small businesses can be harmful. Such problems include complacency, disinterest, even widespread discouragement. Such attitudes can cumulate into crises.
Concept of Motivation
The motivation theories are significant in sociology as they give a rational explanation of five patterns of behavior of people in the organization, based on their needs, reinforcement, cognitions, job characteristics, and feelings /emotions. To discuss the value of the motivation theories in understanding the behavior of the employees at the workplace, some of them should be described further. Content theories The main theories that are studied and can be used in the working environment are Maslows Hierarchy of Needs (1943), McGregors Theory X and Y and Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory (1968). According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, individuals are driven by five needs, which serve as a basis for their effort in work. Starting from the physiological needs, after the satisfaction takes place, the individuals move up the next levels of the hierarchy, which are safety, belongingness & love, esteem and self -actualization needs. Therefore this theory suggested that people are motivated by basic to complicated needs.
Types of Motivation
1. Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation is a type of motivation in which an individual is being motivated by internal desires. For example, let’s say an individual named Bob has set himself a goal to begin losing weight and becoming healthier. Let’s also imagine that Bob’s reason to pursue this path of fitness and wellness is to improve his health overall and feel happier with his appearance. Since Bob’s desire to change comes from within, his motivation is intrinsic.
2. Extrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is a type of motivation in which an individual is being motivated by external desires. Rather than being motivated by the need to look better and feel healthier, let’s say that Bob was feeling pressure from his wife to slim down and improve his physique so that she would be more attracted to him. Since this pressure comes from the outside, this is an example of extrinsic motivation.
Minor Forms of Motivation
All types of motivation are going to fall into one of the two categories above. Now that we’ve covered these motivational types and provided you with some examples, here are minor forms of motivation that are capable of making a big impact in your life.
3. Reward-Based Motivation or Incentive Motivation
Incentive motivation or reward-based motivation is a type of motivation that is utilized when you or others know that they will be a reward once a certain goal is achieved. Because there will be something to look forward to at the end of a task, people will often become more determined to see the task through so that they can receive whatever it is that has been promised. The better the reward, the stronger the motivation will be.
4. Fear-Based Motivation
The word “fear” carries a heavy negative meaning but when it comes to motivation, this is not necessarily the case. Anyone who is big on goal-setting and achievement knows that accountability plays a huge role in following through on goals. When you become accountable either to someone you care about or to the general public, you create a motivation for yourself that is rooted in the fear of failure. This fear helps you to carry out your vision so that you do not fail in front of those who are aware of your goal. Fear-based motivation is extremely powerful as long as the fears are strong enough to prevent you from quitting.
5. Achievement-Based Motivation
Titles, positions, and roles throughout jobs and other areas of our lives are very important to us. Those who are constantly driven to acquire these positions and earn titles for themselves are typically dealing with achievement-based motivation. Whereas those who use incentive motivation to focus on the rewards that come after a goal is met, those who use achievement-based motivation focus on reaching a goal for the sake of achievement. Those who need a boost in their professional life will find achievement-based motivation extremely helpful.
6. Power-Based Motivation
Those who find happiness in becoming more powerful or creating massive change will definitely be fueled by power-based motivation. Power-based motivation is a type of motivation that energizes others to seek more control, typically through the use of positions in employment or organizations. Although it may seem to be a bad thing, power-based motivation is great for those who wish to change the world around them based on their personal vision. If you’re looking to make changes, power-based motivation may just be the way to go.
7. Affiliation Motivation
People often say that it’s not what we do but who we know that dictates our success. For people driven by affiliation motivation, this is most certainly true. Those who use affiliation motivation as a driving force to meet their goals thrive when they connect with others in higher power positions than them. They also thrive when those people compliment the work that they do as well as their achievements. Affiliation motivation is a great force to help you achieve your social goals and move up in the world.
8. Competence Motivation
Have you always wanted to be better at anything you do? Is one of your goals to learn how to do your job better or improve your hobby? If so, you may be in need of some competence motivation. Competence motivation is a type of motivation that helps others to push forward and become more competent in a certain area. This type of motivation is especially helpful when it comes to learning new skills and figuring out ways around obstacles that one is faced within different areas of life.
9. Attitude Motivation
A problem with our attitude, perspectives, and beliefs is an issue that many of us face. It can become a problem in the way that we move throughout to the point that we begin to lose our happiness and miss out on our dreams. For those of you who are losing out on life because of your attitude, attitude motivation will help you to recover and move forward properly. Attitude motivation is a kind of motivation that comes to those who intensely desire to change the way that they see the world around them and the way that they see themselves. Goals associated with self-awareness and self-change will be met with attitude motivation. Motivation is absolutely vital if you want to achieve your dreams. Using the 9 types of motivation mentioned above, nothing will be able to stand in the way of you and your goals any longer.
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