The Art of Motivation
The Art of Motivation: It’s Affects and Applications
Part I. Definition and Importance of Motivation Before delving into the topics of motivational theories, the affects of motivation, and motivational tools, etc., it is important to first define motivation and explain why the subject of motivation is so important in the organizational setting today.
Motivation Defined The topic of motivation is not something new. For decades, scholars, researchers, theorists, psychologists, and organizational leaders have studied this phenomenon which has produced (quite possibly) hundreds of definitions of motivation. The following three definitions are cited to provide insight into the meaning of motivation. • Motivation is how behavior gets started, is energized, is sustained, is directed, is stopped, and what kind of subjective reaction is present in the organism while all this is going on (Jones, 1955) - (Lawler, 1973, p. 3).
• Motivation has to do with a set of independent/dependent variable relationships that explain the direction, amplitude, and persistence of an individual’s behavior, holding constant the effects of aptitude, skill, and understanding of the task, and the constraints operating in the environment (Campbell & Pritchard, 1976) - (Steers, 1991, p. 5).
• Work motivation is a set of energetic forces that originate both within as well as beyond an individual’s being, to initiate work-related behavior, and to determine its form, direction, intensity, and duration (Pinder, 2008, p. 11).
There are two important points to be made when considering the definition of motivation and organizational behavior as it pertains to this paper. First, motivation can come from within an individual (intrinsic motivators) and from the environment around them (extrinsic motivators) (Lawler, 1973, p. 201). Second, there are three characteristics of motivation that organizations should be particularly concerned with when trying to stimulate
Part I. Definition and Importance of Motivation Before delving into the topics of motivational theories, the affects of motivation, and motivational tools, etc., it is important to first define motivation and explain why the subject of motivation is so important in the organizational setting today.
Motivation Defined The topic of motivation is not something new. For decades, scholars, researchers, theorists, psychologists, and organizational leaders have studied this phenomenon which has produced (quite possibly) hundreds of definitions of motivation. The following three definitions are cited to provide insight into the meaning of motivation. • Motivation is how behavior gets started, is energized, is sustained, is directed, is stopped, and what kind of subjective reaction is present in the organism while all this is going on (Jones, 1955) - (Lawler, 1973, p. 3).
• Motivation has to do with a set of independent/dependent variable relationships that explain the direction, amplitude, and persistence of an individual’s behavior, holding constant the effects of aptitude, skill, and understanding of the task, and the constraints operating in the environment (Campbell & Pritchard, 1976) - (Steers, 1991, p. 5).
• Work motivation is a set of energetic forces that originate both within as well as beyond an individual’s being, to initiate work-related behavior, and to determine its form, direction, intensity, and duration (Pinder, 2008, p. 11).
There are two important points to be made when considering the definition of motivation and organizational behavior as it pertains to this paper. First, motivation can come from within an individual (intrinsic motivators) and from the environment around them (extrinsic motivators) (Lawler, 1973, p. 201). Second, there are three characteristics of motivation that organizations should be particularly concerned with when trying to stimulate
References: Hansen, Randall S. (2010).Managing Job Stress: 10 Strategies for Coping and Thriving at Work. Retrieved November 4, 2010 from http://www.quintcareers.com/managing_job_stress.html Hengst, Amy. (2010). Reducing Workplace Stress. Retrieved November 4, 2010 from http://www.hrworld.com/features/reduce-workplace-stress/ Jones, Louis D Kennedy, John M. (2010, February). How Reducing Stress in the Workplace Save Dollars and Lives. Retrieved November 4, 2010 from http://www.managesmarter.com/msg/content_display/training/e3ief7f94880dc0982e70cefa15e9cc631e Lawler, E Miner, J.B. (2005). Organizational Behavior: Essential Theories of Motivation and Leadership. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. Pinder, C. C. (2008). Work Motivation in Organizational Behavior. New York: Psychology Press. Pritchard, R. D. (2008). Managing Motivation: A Manager 's Guide to Diagnosing and Improving Motivation. New York: Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. Thomas, K. W. (2000). Intrinsic Motivation At Work: Building Energy and Committment. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. Whymark, L. (2010, February). Employer Engagement Strategies that Work for Colleges, Universities and Schools