Employee motivation is a widely studied and interesting topic. Many organizations, large and small, continually ask themselves the question, “What do we need to do to increase motivation in the office?” If work is the building block of organizational structures, then motivation is the super glue that holds the organization together. For organizations to progress in their industries, all employees, from top to bottom, must be motivated. Motivation is described as the process of initiating, directing, and maintaining physical and psychological activities. (Duening & Ivancevich, 2006) Motivation encompasses the ideas of preference for activities, the idea of enthusiasm and vigor of responses as well as the prospect of organized action towards goals. Many theories have been created on how to best motivate employees, however the most common theories stem from the concept of human needs. Managers and motivation People spend a large part of their lives working, because of this idea many would like to be rewarded in some way with what they do. Motivation is primarily about why people do things and what drives them to behave in a specific way. Many studies have been completed and a common thread connects them all. Motivated employees are happier at work. Motivated employees have higher self-efficacy, are absent less often, tend to be more productive, and strive to maintain a higher level of excellence. This in turn encourages them to contribute more to the development of an organization. Literature Review Many behavioral scientists believe that humans are motivated by the desire to satisfy needs. (Duening & Ivancevich, 2006) Abraham Maslow developed a theory that highlights five levels of needs, physiological, sa...... at the center of the card ......ivation in which everyone feels appreciated. Conclusions and Future Study In conclusion, the concept Motivation will always be an important topic of discussion for managers. The key to motivation as we currently know it based on research is that we must satisfy needs. Motivation is intrinsic and extrinsic. As managers, our job is to play a role in the choice, competence, relevance and advancement of our employees. (Duening & Ivancevich, 2006) As we become more familiar with our employees' behaviors, we can make better decisions about how to motivate them. Herzberg, McClelland, Musselwhite, Bulter and Waldrop have explored this concept in great detail, however they all have one thing in common; Successful motivation makes your work more enriching. Employees want to come to work, are more productive, and are more successful, which in turn increases the success of the organization.
tags