Motivation Week 2
What is motivation? Motivation is the driving force that a enables a worker to perform at his best level. A business should have a well-motivated workforce if it wishes to achieve its objectives such as raising productivity, minimising wastage, enhancing efficiency, maximising profit, enhancing the company’s image etc…
A number of social scientists have expressed their views regarding the importance of having a motivated workforce. The following theories highlight this aspect of business effectively.
Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs”
Fredrick Taylor’s “scientific management theory”
McGregor’s theory “X & Y”
Fredrick Herzberg’s two factor or hygiene theory
and more…..
Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs”
Fredrick Taylor’s “scientific management theory”
McGregor’s theory “X & Y”
Fredrick Herzberg’s two factor or hygiene theory
and more…..
“Business studies” by Jewell
The most relevant theory to my situation is David McClelland’s theory of needs. His ideas have since been widely adopted in many organizations, and relate closely to the theory of Frederick Herzberg.
David McClelland has contributed to the understanding of motivation by identifying three types of basic motivation needs.
These three types are:
Need for Power:
McClelland suggests that people with a high need for power have a great concern with exercising influence and control. Such individuals generally are seeking positions of leadership. They are frequently good conversationalist, though often argumentative; they are usually forceful, outspoken and demanding and enjoy teaching and public speaking.
Need for Affiliation:
People with a high need for affiliation derive pleasure from being loved and tend to avoid the pain of being rejected by a social group. As individuals, they are likely to be concerned with maintaining pleasant social relationships, to enjoy a sense of intimacy and understanding, to be ready to console and help others in trouble, and to enjoy friendly interaction with others.
Need for Achievement:
People with a high need for achievement have an intense desire for success and an equally intense fear of failure. They want to be challenged, and they set moderately difficult goals for themselves. They take a realistic approach to risk and prefer to analyse and assess problems, assume personal responsibility for getting a job done, and like specific and prompt feedback on how they are doing. They tend to be restless, like to work long hours and would rather run their own show.
“Management” by Bartol and Tein
Need for Power:
McClelland suggests that people with a high need for power have a great concern with exercising influence and control. Such individuals generally are seeking positions of leadership. They are frequently good conversationalist, though often argumentative; they are usually forceful, outspoken and demanding and enjoy teaching and public speaking.
Need for Affiliation:
People with a high need for affiliation derive pleasure from being loved and tend to avoid the pain of being rejected by a social group. As individuals, they are likely to be concerned with maintaining pleasant social relationships, to enjoy a sense of intimacy and understanding, to be ready to console and help others in trouble, and to enjoy friendly interaction with others.
Need for Achievement:
People with a high need for achievement have an intense desire for success and an equally intense fear of failure. They want to be challenged, and they set moderately difficult goals for themselves. They take a realistic approach to risk and prefer to analyse and assess problems, assume personal responsibility for getting a job done, and like specific and prompt feedback on how they are doing. They tend to be restless, like to work long hours and would rather run their own show.
“Management” by Bartol and Tein
De-Motivation
I always had an interest in studying business but my family never wanted me to do so as I was born in a era when there was a trend or a psychological impact on the minds of people in my country that you are only successful if you are a doctor or an engineer but I never had an interest in that and so my parents forced me to have science subjects in GCSE O-levels so that I could be one of those so called well educated people that was the time when I got demotivated and so I had no interest in reading all that human body functions that how they work, what each body part has to do, what our bodies need to stay healthy etc etc and honestly speaking i didn’t find it exciting. Later I hardly passed GCSE O-levels as I was badly demotivated because I was not doing what I wanted to do as I had planned so many things for myself.
Motivation
Later I explained my parents the reason for not passing the GCSE O-levels with good grades so I tried to convince them that I had no interest in becoming a doctor or an engineer so I got admission in GCE A-levels with business subjects and that was the time I got motivated as I had the chance to prove myself that I can do it so my affiliation was the only force I trusted to achieve good grades. So I worked really hard in GCE A-levels as I didn’t even knew a single thing about business so I passed out with good grades and proved myself that I could that. Now I’m here in Bucks New University studying in a business degree program is my achievement till yet but still there’s a lot more to go to get what I had thought for myself.
Besides formal education I have also been involved in running my family business of agricultural products and lands. The practical experience and exposure has given me the insight into real practices of business and an entrepreneurial mind-set. Handwork, focus, innovation and creativity are what as a person inspire me to work so these things would help to motivate me in the next two to three years.
I always had an interest in studying business but my family never wanted me to do so as I was born in a era when there was a trend or a psychological impact on the minds of people in my country that you are only successful if you are a doctor or an engineer but I never had an interest in that and so my parents forced me to have science subjects in GCSE O-levels so that I could be one of those so called well educated people that was the time when I got demotivated and so I had no interest in reading all that human body functions that how they work, what each body part has to do, what our bodies need to stay healthy etc etc and honestly speaking i didn’t find it exciting. Later I hardly passed GCSE O-levels as I was badly demotivated because I was not doing what I wanted to do as I had planned so many things for myself.
Motivation
Later I explained my parents the reason for not passing the GCSE O-levels with good grades so I tried to convince them that I had no interest in becoming a doctor or an engineer so I got admission in GCE A-levels with business subjects and that was the time I got motivated as I had the chance to prove myself that I can do it so my affiliation was the only force I trusted to achieve good grades. So I worked really hard in GCE A-levels as I didn’t even knew a single thing about business so I passed out with good grades and proved myself that I could that. Now I’m here in Bucks New University studying in a business degree program is my achievement till yet but still there’s a lot more to go to get what I had thought for myself.
Besides formal education I have also been involved in running my family business of agricultural products and lands. The practical experience and exposure has given me the insight into real practices of business and an entrepreneurial mind-set. Handwork, focus, innovation and creativity are what as a person inspire me to work so these things would help to motivate me in the next two to three years.
Conclusion
In conclusion I would say that McClelland theory fits on me as my need for power is my diligence and the eagerness to work for a well-known multinational company; need for affiliation is that i will be passing out with flying colours and the opportunity to do so would be a great milestone achieved in my endeavours to establish myself in business. Need for achievement is the outcome that I think of is to get a decent paid business related job that will help me to have a good healthy living lifestyle. Apart from this theory the other theory that I think is a bit relevant to me in some cases is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs but McClelland’s theory of needs is the most relevant I found as it covers all the aspects of me and my past life.
References:
“Business studies by Jewell”
“Management by Bartol and Tein”
References:
“Business studies by Jewell”
“Management by Bartol and Tein”
Well done - this blog reads much better now, with links to the content theory.
ReplyDeleteMotivation is the most important aspect in a person's success. There is always an motivation force which helps us to achieve our target. This is a great blog.
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