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Motivating Employees

The Big Idea

In this business classic, author Anne Bruce and James Pepitone shows readers how to build a highly-motivated and highly-productive organization. Written specifically for today’s busy manager, “Motivating Employees” is a must-read for any executive who wishes to make a positive change inside his or her organization.

1. Motivation Is an Inside Job

Motivation is defined as the drive that moves us to do what we do. People are motivated when they feel that they are doing something that is in their best interests. As a manager, you must realize that you can’t motivate other people. Rather, you can only influence what they are motivated to do.

Whether you like it or not, you will end up influencing the motivation of your employees. You must make sure, however, that you are influencing your staff in a positive manner and not the other way around.

Motivation: Intrinsic and Extrinsic

Motivation is often seen as both intrinsic (coming from within) and extrinsic (affected by external factors). Although external factors can indeed affect intrinsic motivation, they are still subjected to intrinsic concerns.

The Three C’s of Intrinsic Motivation

• Collaboration - People feel more motivated when they are inspired to cooperate with others in order for everyone to succeed.
• Content - People feel more motivated when they see how their work adds value to the company’s goals.
• Choice - People feel more motivated when they are empowered.

Tips on How to Motivate Employees to Do a Great Job Every Day

• Recognize their efforts on a job well done.
• Show patience and concern.
• Ask for their inputs and act on them.
• Appreciate both introverts and extroverts.
• Allow and encourage lateral movement in the organization.
• Show employees why their work is important to the organization.

Three Most Common Ways to Influence Motivation

• Fear - Although the fear of losing one’s job may work temporarily to motivate employees, it will not last.
• Incentives - People will work to get the reward but may not continue to do good work after the incentive had been received.
• Opportunities for Personal Growth - This is one of the best ways to maximize employee motivation.