Employee Behavior & Motivation

Motivation is something that occurs within a person's mind, but it can be sustained and developed through external factors. Managers who motivate employees well will reap the benefits in employee performance.

Motivation

A variety of psychological theories of motivation exist in the academic community. For the purposes of business, motivation is defined as "the individual internal process that energizes, directs and sustains behavior," according to "Business" by William M. Pride, Robert J. Hughes and Jack R. Kapoor.

Motivation and Behavior

Motivation is related to behavior. An employee who performs well of his own volition has a high level of motivation. Someone who needs constant direction would be said to have low motivation. Employees are motivated by different factors depending on their positions. Pay, bonuses and intellectually stimulating work are examples of motivating factors.

Motivating Behavior

Motivating employees could be considered the most important job of a manager, since competitive, motivated employees keep a workplace running. Managers can cultivate competitive employees by providing competitive salaries and benefits. Managers can also cultivate a stable, relaxed work environment, provide positive feedback for good performance, and make employees feel like they are a part of the decision-making process.

References

• "Business"; William M. Pride, Robert J. Hughes and Jack R. Kapoor; 2010
• "Journal of Extension"; Understanding Employee Motivation; James R. Lindner; June 1998
• Work Motivation: History, Theory, Research and Practice; Gary P. Latham; 2007