Motivation in the Workplace
Running head: MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Organizational Communication Capstone Project Motivation in the Workplace: Theory and Practice
Author’s Note: OLRM 250 Organizational Communications Dr. Jeffrey Yergler Sandy Johnson August 18, 2011 sajo69@msn.com
MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE Abstract
1
There are few things worse in an average person’s life than working at a job you detest. What is even worse is that your manager does nothing to make it better. Motivation, whether is it personal or in the workplace has been proven to be a fact of life throughout human nature. My purpose for selecting motivation is to discuss not only the practice of but also the theory behind motivation and why it is extremely important in the workplace.
I always go back to my days at Fabricare as a major source of motivation in my life; however, it was all negative motivation. I use Fabricare as the example of ‘what NOT to do’ to your employees if you want to increase production, attendance, morale, or quality in workmanship.
I am the one who inspires and motivates others whether it is at home, with friends, at work, or on a committee. I love to see people reach higher than they dared reach before. Ferdinand Foch, renowned WWI French leader, once said, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” (Leading Thoughts: Building a Community of Leaders, 2009) I believe this to be true. A human soul on fire achieves remarkable things and with the right breeze spreads that fire to others. Motivation.
MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE Theories of Motivation
2
In order to understand how motivation is affective in the workplace, one must understand how motivation works with human relations in general. There have several theories regarding different motivation styles and I will discuss the major ones here. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) was a renowned Russian psychologist. In the late 60’s he (and Carl Rogers) became one of the
Organizational Communication Capstone Project Motivation in the Workplace: Theory and Practice
Author’s Note: OLRM 250 Organizational Communications Dr. Jeffrey Yergler Sandy Johnson August 18, 2011 sajo69@msn.com
MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE Abstract
1
There are few things worse in an average person’s life than working at a job you detest. What is even worse is that your manager does nothing to make it better. Motivation, whether is it personal or in the workplace has been proven to be a fact of life throughout human nature. My purpose for selecting motivation is to discuss not only the practice of but also the theory behind motivation and why it is extremely important in the workplace.
I always go back to my days at Fabricare as a major source of motivation in my life; however, it was all negative motivation. I use Fabricare as the example of ‘what NOT to do’ to your employees if you want to increase production, attendance, morale, or quality in workmanship.
I am the one who inspires and motivates others whether it is at home, with friends, at work, or on a committee. I love to see people reach higher than they dared reach before. Ferdinand Foch, renowned WWI French leader, once said, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” (Leading Thoughts: Building a Community of Leaders, 2009) I believe this to be true. A human soul on fire achieves remarkable things and with the right breeze spreads that fire to others. Motivation.
MOTIVATION IN THE WORKPLACE Theories of Motivation
2
In order to understand how motivation is affective in the workplace, one must understand how motivation works with human relations in general. There have several theories regarding different motivation styles and I will discuss the major ones here. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) was a renowned Russian psychologist. In the late 60’s he (and Carl Rogers) became one of the