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TOPIC COVERED: MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE

What is motivation?
Motivation is a theoretical construct, used to explain behavior. It is the scientific word used to represent the reasons for our actions,
our desires, our needs, etc.
Why is motivation in the workplace important?
Motivation in the workplace is very vital for reasons such as these:

Puts human resources into action

Improves level of efficiency of employees
Leads to achievement of organizational goals
Builds friendly relationship
Leads to stability of work force

Two types of Motivation: Intrinsic Versus Extrinsic Motivation

Extrinsic factors are those that are external to the employee. Extrinsic motivation means that the individual's motivational stimuli
are coming from outside.
Examples:

Money
Employee of the month award
Benefit package
Bonuses
Organized activities

Intrinsic factors are those internal to the individual. It means that the individual's motivational stimuli are coming from within. The
individual has the desire to perform a specific task, because its results are in accordance with his belief system or fulfills a desire and
therefore importance is attached to it.
Examples:

Acceptance: We all need to feel that we, as well as our decisions, are accepted by our co-workers.
Curiosity: We all have the desire to be in the know.
Honor: We all need to respect the rules and to be ethical.
Independence: We all need to feel we are unique.
Order: We all need to be organized.
Power: We all have the desire to be able to have influence.
Social contact: We all need to have some social interactions.
Social Status: We all have the desire to feel important.

Three Popular Theories of Workplace Motivation

Three of the most popular models of motivation are Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's two-factor model and Merill and
Reids social styles. Both are widely accepted and most recent research builds on the ideas presented in these two models.

Abraham Maslow presented his model of motivation in 1954. The basic idea of Maslow's model was that there are five levels of
needs for humans and each level needed to be fulfilled before someone could be motivated by higher level factors. Figure 1 is a
graphical example of Maslow's model:

The two-factor theory (also known as Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory and dual-factor theory) states that there are certain
factors in the workplace that cause job satisfaction, while a separate set of factors cause dissatisfaction. It was developed by
psychologist Frederick Herzberg, who theorized that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction act independently of each other. Figure 2
shows Herzbergs theory:

Lastly, Merrill and Reid identified four personal styles that motivate people:
Driver Action Orientated
Focus is placed on the present and direction action, with minimal concern for cautionary action with relationships.
This group prefers to control and tell.
Expressive Intuition Orientated
Focus is place on involving others and future time frames. Isolation is rejected and there is minimum concern pertaining to routines.
This group prefers to emote and tell.
Amiable Relationship Oriented
Focus is placed on relating and supporting the current time frame.
There is very little concern pertaining to affecting chain and conflict is rejected. This group prefers to emote and ask.
Analytical Thinking Oriented
Focus is placed on cautious actions, the historical time frame, and getting things right.
There is minimum concern for relationship and there is a tendency to reject being wrong. This group prefers to control and ask.
Application
To assist people feel attached with their work, and to organize their work to meet their personal style.