Motivation

Introduction: For this blog, I have to explain one of the content theories on motivation, which I feel is particularly relevant to me, then I have to go onto explaining my motivation for starting my degree course, why I am here, what motivated me to get here and what will motivate me for the next 2-3 years, then I will go onto explaining a time when I was de-motivated, why did I feel like this, what got me more motivated and what would I do differently and lastly I will finish the blog with a brief conclusion evaluating my findings of this topic. 

What is motivation?
Motivation is defined as a process, where an individual can make the decision themselves, knowing the outcome and having the enthusiasm to succeed, for example an individual could be motivated in the workplace by many different factors for example the salary, and another individual would state that the type of job itself motivates them such as a career in education teaching young people and seeing them go further, so motivation is different, one person could be motivated by the basic salary, having the responsibility to undertake the job role whereas another would be motivated by the job itself.

Herzberg's content theory:

Herzberg’s two factor motivational theory is the most relevant one to me, as Herzberg looks at and identifies factors that motivate people in the workplace.  Hygiene factors such as the working conditions, company benefits, job status and the theory also looks at motivational factors that would motivate me such as receiving recognition, having the responsibly and growth within the company. I feel having a good salary is important to me as it motivates me to work harder and achieve my full potential at work. Below is a template of Herzberg’s two factor theory.

Hygiene factors	Motivating factors
Working conditions	Achievements
Salary	Recognition
Job security	Responsibility
Job status	Job role
Company policy and benefits	Promotion

Motivation for degree:

My motivation for my degree, was that I had a keen interest in business right from the start, and undertaking a BTEC National Diploma in Business, I knew I wanted to go onto higher education and do a degree in a course that really interested me, and was keen to learn all the different aspects and knowing that in three year time, I will be a graduate and have a BA Hons Degree in Business Management, and get a job that I enjoy doing and open up my own business one day. Also my family motivated me to go onto higher education and get a degree so from the support and encouragement I received from them and knowing that they were there to help me out motivated me even more. Also having taken out a gap year, made me realise that I would like to work in management, being my own boss rather than working for someone. Knowing that more potential employers would like to recruit graduates to work for their company rather than individuals without a degree and seeing companies that I would like to work for having graduate scheme motivated me to work hard and achieve the best possible grade out of my course. The main reason I am doing a degree is because I know in three years I will get the reward, such as achieving my degree, being a graduate and getting my ideal job, so by learning and going to all my lectures and taking notes and also studying in my spare time so that I have a better understanding of the modules and do research and revise for exams well in advance.  The rewards and sense of achieve motivates me the most. 

Therefore I consider that Herzberg’s theory motives me the most, as I like taking the responsibility for my work and knowing that at university I will achieve the best grade if I am dedicated and work hard and overcome all the challenges faced.  Through increasing my self-esteem and having the sense of achievement I will reach my potential goal. The desire to succeed and the feeling of satisfaction knowing that I have achieved all the steps and by  having intrinsic needs, knowing that I would know the outcome by me studying, and having an interest in the modules and the degree itself  I am more likely to succeed and do well in my course. Knowing that my hard work will pay off, and having the feeling that I have completed the tasks to the best of my ability, and be motivated by my achievements. Also I think that I have a bit of extrinsic needs as I am studying for three years and know that when I have graduate the rewards will be better,  for example I will have a excellent salary.

  
Time I felt de-motivated:

A time where I felt de-motivated was at work,  this was mainly because I felt as if I have a negative attitude to work, and did not really want to go in I felt as if I worked too hard and got no rest, managers do not seem to listen, also the pay de-motivates me as it feels like I get up first thing in the morning get ready and go to work and then I work there for 9 hours and come home and go sleep, feels repetitive and there is no time out and my weekends have never being the same since. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs would link to one of the time’s where I felt de-motivated where I had a negative attitude to work I would see myself at the bottom at the psychological stage knowing that the only thing that kept me in the job was the basic pay as I could live off and it could pay for all my expenses. Alderfers ERG theory looks at three categories existence needs which looks at the physical and safety needs, relatedness needs looks at social and external esteem and human needs and lastly growth needs and this looks at internal esteem and self accusation, this could also be referred to a time where I felt de-motivated when my manager did not identify my needs at work, so by management recognising my needs as an employee I would be more satisfied and motivated in the workplace. McClelland’s achievement motivational theory looks at the needs and there are three stages the need for achievement, the need for authority and power, and the need for affiliation. This theory would relate to me when I felt de-motivated at work when my managers do not give me any responsibility in the workplace, so by receiving feedback from managers it would enable me to measure my success, so by my manager  setting me goals that are achievable it would motivate me.

To get me more motivated I looked at ways how I could progress in my job through having my AORs with my supervisor every month we discussed what was expected of me and how I could get onto the next level and if I progressed my pay would also increase and by having appraisals with my manager, discussing my performance and other issues relating to my work life that motive me as it felt like I got the recognition from my managers and also I got more responsibility as I had to train new employees. The theory of motivation that I would use to motivate me in the workplace would be McClelland’s because he believed that “achievement –motivated people are generally the ones who make things happen and get results, and that this extends to getting results through the organisation of other people and resources”, being motivated to do the job in addition to receiving satisfaction through achieving the tasks set.  So by having time to discuss my performance and issues in the workplace with my manager, I will feel more motivated and valued.

 

Conclusion: overall my findings on this particular topic on motivation was that there are many different theories and not all of them apply to you.  Motivation differs for each individual what motivate one could de-motivate another for example, salary to motivate one and another would disagree and state that the job role itself motivates them and there are many different motivation theory I would say that Herzberg’s two factor theory relate to me as I am motivated by the hygiene factors including the salary, having job security and motivational factors such as having the responsibility in the workplace along with receiving recognition from managers. Also this topic looks at intrinsic and extrinsic needs, intrinsic need is where one could be motivated by self respect and feeling of achievement whereas extrinsic needs looks at fringe benefits the company has to offer and the working conditions. I would say that at university I see myself mostly motivated through the intrinsic needs through the sense of achievements and at work I would be motivated by extrinsic needs such as the company’s benefit and pay.

References:

[1] Mcclelland Motivational Needs [Online] Available From: http://www.businessballs.com/davidmcclelland.htm [Accessed 15th October 2012] 

 

[2] Maslow’s Motivation Theory [Online] Available From: http://tutor2u.net/business/people/motivation_theory_maslow.asp [Accessed 15th October 2011] 

[3] Mullins, L. (2007) Management & Organisational Behaviour:  8^th edition. Harlow: Prentice Hall.

[4] Simpson, M (2012) PowerPoint.