Introduction to Motivation:
What is Motivation?
The topic of motivation is something that we can all relate. For example, as students we are constantly challenged to find motivation to keep going to class despite stress and personal issues. Motivation is link to goals and aspirations. In order to achieve our goals, we need to ‘move’ and do something.
In line with this, motivation is defined as.
The impact of motivation is not only important on a personal or individual level but it is also vital in an organizational level. In businesses, it is needed to always keep employees motivate to assure productivity and achievement of goals. Its significance in business can not be overstated. At some point in becomes the psychological catalyst for both employees and owners to reach their goals.
MAJOR THEORIES OF MOTIVATION
There are major theories related to motivation, these theories are divided depending on how the theorist approached behavior such as- Need Approaches, Cognitive Approaches and Reinforcement and Operant Conditioning.
The approaches in tackling motivation aim to determine and highlight the elements that help maintain and increase motivation. It can be implied that motivation can come from two sources which is internal and external sources of motivation (or even the combination of both).
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS MODEL
Arguably one of the most well-known theories related to motivation, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs argues that while people aim to meet their basic needs, they also progressively seek to address higher needs in the form of a pyramid.
- Physiological needs (also known as Biological Needs) – food, air, shelter, clothes, sex, ect.
- Safety needs – security, order and protection.
- Belongingness and Love needs – social groups such as family, friends and peers.
- Esteem needs – achievements, status, self-esteem and confidence to name a few
- Self-Actualization needs- finding life’s worth and fulfilment
ALDERFER’S ERG THEORY
The theory of Alderfer divides human needs into three categories namely: Existence, Relatedness and Growth Needs. Existence needs are in the form of Physiological and safety needs. Relatedness needs are social and external involvement and lastly Growth needs are internal and self-actualization requirements. Despite the similarities with Maslow, contrary to Maslow’s belief that needs are in the form of heirachy, Alderfer believes that needs have neither arrangement nor hierarchy.
HERZBERG’S TWO FACTOR THEORY
This theory divides needs into two categories-internal and external motivators’ namely-Hygiene and Motivator Factors.
MCCLELLAND’S LEARNED NEEDS THEORY
Also known as the Three Needs Theory, he argues that with regards to gender, race and age people have three motivating drivers and one will be the dominant motivator.
One of the more recent theories of motivation is developed by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, who is a professor at the Harvard Business School.
According to her, one of the best ways to increase workers’ motivation is to empower them. Make them feel their value to both the organization and society. She named three M’s to underline her point- Mastery, Membership and Meaning. The three Ms work hand in hand to increase workers involvement within the organization.
She even added that Money comes as the distant fourth M, but outside of the external motivator, employers prefer to feel the meaning of their work. They wish to see if what they are doing is of any use to others. They want to feel that they are doing work that is worthwhile.
References:
- Lauby, S. J. (2005). Motivating employees. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.
- Montana, P. J. & Charnov, B. H. (2008). Management. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series.
- Shah. S. (2013, August 12). How to motivate employees. [Career Journal]. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com
- Yakowicz, W. (2013, October 29). 3 Things Your Employees Want More Than Money. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com
