Motivational Methods
Ronna Eriacho, Jose Cardona & Antoinette
HCS 325
May 19, 2015
Dr. Lisa Jones
Motivational Methods
Although our department must downsize, as a manager I tend to incorporate a technique that will keep my employees motivated throughout the transition. The process of change can definitely become a challenge in the work place. Employees might become overwhelmed, lose focus and unmotivated. To prevent that from happening I will utilize Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational method that has been around since 1943. The method consists of the following five steps: (“A Managerial Point of View on the Relationship between of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Dual Factor Theory,” 2014).
1. Physiological needs
2. Safety need
3. Social needs
4. Esteem needs
5. Self-actualization
The goal of Maslow’s Hierarchy is to reach self-actualization. In the work place self-actualization is equivalent to advancement and growth in a position. An employee has the drive to take on more challenging work assignments knowing he/she can accomplish it. However, before self-actualization is reached employees must have physiological needs met. Physiological needs include lunch breaks, rest breaks, or reasonable work hours. If physiological needs are not met it is likely that an employee will not continue to work (“A Managerial Point of View on the Relationship between of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Dual Factor Theory,” 2014).
An employee also needs a sense of safety within the organization. Employees must always be able to work under safe conditions. Employees feel more comfortable if they know that their job is secure. Along with job security comes the benefits of health insurance and compensation. As long as a person is employed the employee and his/her family are eligible for health insurance. An employee is guaranteed compensation for the work he/she does. As we move up the ladder we will reach social needs. This is an important step as it involves the interaction and communication between co-workers, customers, and supervisors. Social needs can keep an employee’s stress level down. Friendly interaction can motivate employees to develop long lasting relationships (“A Managerial Point of View on the Relationship between of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Dual Factor Theory,” 2014).
Once the lower level of the hierarchy is established, esteem needs will be the next step before self-actualization. Motivation can rely on esteem needs. An employee needs to understand his/her responsibilities of the position. It is common that if an