Motivation

BEING MOTIVATED

There is a time in everyone’s life when they feel motivated. Your first day at school, that first kiss, first job, driving test, exams or interviews, to name a few. So what has motivated me?
The answer to that is my wife.
Having someone around who picks you up when you’re down, gives you the confidence to succeed when all you feel is failure, and stands by you when everything else is falling apart.
Using Maslow’s theory I am quite easily on the top of the pyramid. The motivation comes from my wife; the recognition comes from my own realisation that I am capable, regardless of my disability, to be at university. Without these factors I would possibly be on the second step.

DE-MOTIVATION

Six years ago I had just succeeded in becoming a Retained Fireman and was looking forward to my first day of training, little did I know was that my self esteem was about to come crashing down.
After having a regular eye test I was informed that there was something showing at the back of my eyes. After a visit to Wycombe hospital I was referred to Moorfields in London. It was there that I was informed that I had a very rare eye disease and that I was going blind. A lot of medication and numerous visits to hospital, I went from being fit and healthy and in a full time job, to losing everything Job, home, self-esteem, even being told that because I was now registered as sight impaired I was no longer employable, and can no longer hold a driving licence. I felt lower than I ever had before.
Using Maslow’s theory I would put myself at the bottom of the pyramid with no aspect or vision to climb up.

MASLOW’S THEORY

I have used Maslow as a good indicator for how I see myself in my progression to succeed. If I am feeling low then my self esteem keeps me from climbing up the pyramid, yet if I am being motivated and feel positive I can then begin to climb higher.
Some things in life will de-motivate us, but with confidence and motivation from those around us, we can reach that which we deemed unachievable.
Peter Marshall says that Maslow’s theory not only looks at work as a motivator, it also looks at your self esteem. (Marshall.1999)

MASLOW

Born in 1943, Abraham H.Maslow was one of the founding fathers of humanist approaches to management. His 'Hierachy of needs' is said to be the definitive set of needs for many people.

The Hierachial effect

A key aspect of the pyramid is the Hierachial nature of needs, this is judged by five needs.

• Physiological - To do with maintenance of the body
• Safety - Putting a roof under our heads and keeping us from harm.
• Belonging - Helpful and kind (means more friends)
• Esteem - If people respect us, we have more power.
• Self-Actualization - Our greatest achievement

Maslow later added three more needs...

• Between Esteem and self-Actualization was, Need to Know and Understand (cognative) and the need for Aesthetic Beauty (emotional)
• Self-actualization was, Realising own potential
• Transcendance was, Helping others achieve potential

(changing minds,2009)

Maslow quotes " maybe even the discovery of identity of self is helped along more by being given feedback from a whole group of other people of how I affect them, what influence I have on them, how they see me and so on." (Maslow,1998)(p188)

Herzberg

Born Frederwick Herzberg in April 1923, he wrote several books and did research on motivational theories, and proved that people will work hard to achieve the hygiene factors.

This was because they were unhappy without them, and yet the affect soon wore off because poorly managed organisations failed to understand that people needed motivation and recognition. (business balls,2001)

Herzberg looked at the two way factor theory, which were,

HYGIENE FACTORS

• company policy and admin
• supervision
• work conditions
• salary
• relationships
• status

MOTIVATORS

• achievement
• recognition
• work itself
• responsibility
• advancement
• growth

Herzberg died in January 2000. His theory is still used by companies today.

Reference list :

Business balls (2001) Herzbergs two way theory [online].Available from: http://businessballs.com [Accessed 16 October 2009]

Changing minds(2009) Maslows Hierarchy [online].Available from: http://www.changingminds.org/ [Accessed 16 October 2009]

Marshall,P.(1999) Studying psychology.1st ed.plymouth:studymates

Maslow,A H.(1998)Maslow on Management.1st ed.Canada:Wiley