Employee motivation is a crucial factor in the modern-day working environment. It can be a source of competitive advantage in the current highly competitive business environment. Employers can use different approaches to motivate their employees. However, employee motivation can collide with a personal value system, thereby presenting a challenge. Below is a reflection and analysis on the topic of employee motivation, as well as the individual value system.
I consider my values the foundation upon which I make certain important decisions. The values also guide and motivate me while engaging in different activities, including work. Firstly, I am a curious person; I always desire to understand the new phenomenon and how they work in everyday life. Secondly, I am honest in expressing myself to other people and in laying out my feelings towards different happenings. Lastly, I enjoy conducting my duties with the highest standards of integrity to minimize the effects of my actions on others, as well as the larger society.
Based on my values, I would be willing to take on more duties at the workplace. The extra work would present a challenging environment that would motivate me to improve on the way I organize myself at work to accomplish the tasks. I believe the approach can enhance the way I relate with fellow employees and managers, particularly in feeling satisfied in conducting my duties.
Employee motivation entails an individual’s positive feeling from the appraisal of the job activities. It is an initiative undertaken and monitored to push the employee to accomplish certain objectives at the workplace. Employees who are contended with their duties at work get good reviews regarding their performance whereas a bad review shows dissatisfaction. Various theories have been proposed by scholars to explain the different ways people can be motivated to work better.
The most outstanding theory is Maslow’s theory which is based on people’s different needs. People have different needs at different times, these needs are prioritized based on their importance to every individual (Badubi, 2017). People prioritize their psychological needs first followed by security needs, social needs, and the need for acknowledgment (self-esteem), and at the top of the hierarchy are self-actualization needs. Employers may seek to fulfill certain needs of their employees to motivate them to work harder.
The second most recognized motivation theory was developed by Herzberg. He discovered that employees’ level of satisfaction at the workplace is influenced by five attributes, namely: the job itself, achievement, responsibility, recognition, and advancement. In applying this theory, employers cultivate a work environment that allows an employee to gradually be motivated through their career progression with outstanding performance being rewarded (Mark, 2019). Employers need to ensure that all employees are sufficiently rewarded and promoted at work to feel motivated and perform better.
However, I consider Maslow’s theory to be more applicable to me personally. It would be hard to perform at work if my needs are not fulfilled. Basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter form the foundation upon which life is sustained. Even though there are endless needs, once the basic needs are met and the employer shows commitment to keep meeting other needs, I would feel motivated to work harder and achieve more. Furthermore, motivation can be categorized as either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is based on an individual’s internal factors, such as the desire to work harder, and fear of failure. Extrinsic motivation is facilitated through external forces, such as rewards or remuneration.
I have engaged in various activities on different occasions and realized that employers use different approaches to motivate their employees. In one organization, the employer-provided food through the company canteen. The approach helped to save much especially considering the workers did not have to worry about the money to spend on buying food. In addition, the employer ensured that time was saved given the fact that if left on their own the employees would spend more time looking for affordable places to buy their lunch.
A person’s value system is based on their view of the principles of certain activities and theories. Every person has a value system, meaning similar aspects may be viewed from diverse angles by different people (Roy, 2017). People’s conduct and motivation are based on their value system. The values motivate people to conduct themselves in a particular way in any activity they seek to undertake.
Values should not be compromised. Therefore, I would not compromise my value system just for the desire to accomplish my career goals. According to Altman (2017), compromise means stepping down to lower standards and is a sign of being weak and having low self-esteem. I would prefer finding a good alternative or finding ways of changing the situation for the better.
Overall, employees must be motivated to enable them to enhance their performance at work. Numerous methods to approach the employees to exist and different organizations would prefer the style that best suits them. However, employee motivation can be affected by personal values especially if they collide with the core mandate of the organization they work for. It is also important not to compromise a person’s value system for the sake of challenges encountered. Employees must be motivated to enable them to enhance their performance at work. Numerous methods to approach the employees to exist.
References
Altman, L. (2017). You can succeed without compromising your values. Complete Wellbeing. Web.
Mark. (2019). 5 Psychological theories of motivation to increase productivity. Contactzilla – Contact Management Made Simple. Web.
Badubi, R.M. (2017). Theories of motivation and their application in organizations: A risk analysis. International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, 3(3), 44–51. Web.
Roy, E. D. (2017). Values: How to use values to motivate. Life’s Too Good. Web.