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understanding the manager's motivational tool bag
Motivation continues to be of concern to every manager. Since management is all about getting things done through others, knowing how to motivate others can improve the effectiveness of managers.
An inability to motivate others can leave a manager ineffective and virtually powerless. Motivation is reflected in the amount of effort that one invests in a given task. Highly motivated individuals are seen as expending more effort than those who are not as motivated. Motivation might be further identified as the propensity to go that extra mile and to give 110 percent.
Yet this is a tall order in today's workforce where surveys have concluded that the average American worker is expending as little as 60 percent of their potential on the job.
This begs the question, then, how can managers get these workers to expend more effort? And if 60 percent is the average, what about those who are expending even less than 60 percent of their effort? Improved motivation may be one solution to the challenge. The diversity of today's workforce has further complicated an already complex phenomenon. The differences among workers are greater than ever before. To be more successful in motivating a diverse workforce requires, then, an understanding of the differences among people and what makes them tick.
Organizational behavior modification (referred to by the acronym OB Mod) is used extensively in organizations to shape behavior and motivate employees. Through OB Mod, managers systematically reinforce those behaviors that they deem appropriate. Several of the classic motivation theories provide insight into how best to address today's employees. They help managers better understand their employees and what drives their behaviors. These theories include Thorndike's law of effect, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Herzberg's two-factor theory and equity theory.
Thorndike's Law of Effect
The law of effect according to Thorndike provides managers with tremendous insight into the most effective use of reinforcement. Thorndike proposed that behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow from behavior. Those behaviors that are followed by a positive consequence are more likely to be repeated. On the flip side, those behaviors that are followed by a negative consequence are less likely to be repeated. While relatively simplistic, the actual implementation by managers is...