Motivation Theory: The Implementation of Motivation in the Workplace

Motivation lends a hand to one to achieve goals and can be either intrinsic or extrinsic (TheManager.org, 2001). In multiple theories, motivation is the need to decrease pain or increase one's happiness. Through the study of motivation, a management team will be better able to inspire their employees and the company as a whole. The satisfaction the employees may have the possibility to create internal happiness, a pleasant work environment, and an increase in productivity. This is especially true when one's motivation comes directly from bodily deficits, which then causes them to work towards reversing said deficit (Houghton Mifflin, 1998).

Example

A retail or commission-based job often requires a certain amount of products or services to be sold by an employee in a given set of time. In the financial bank setting, it is a common practice for the financial bankers to be issued a certain number of points per product or service they sell. If by the end of the month the banker gains enough points to meet one hundred percent of the goal set for them, they receive one hundred percent of their commissions. If they do not meet their goal, they are not able to receive the full commission. Being able to obtain a full payout is enough to motivate bankers, but bank tellers have a completely different incentive plan. Because a teller's goal is to provide excellent customer service rather than to sell products and services, surveys are given to customers at random. If the teller is able to provide satisfactory service, they receive an extra bonus on their...

Banks are focused attempting to obtain maximum profits, and thus the tellers are requested upon to introduce products or services the customers they come in contact with may need. If the teller refers a product or service to the customer in which they decide to obtain, both the teller and the banker are able to receive financial rewards.
The bankers are given numbers in which they are required to meet each month. This goal meeting tactic will help bankers become motivated by allowing them to earn their full paycheck. As for the tellers, though the product and services selling is not required, those who perform are often thought of as promotion material and team players; this mixed with financial incentives help motivate the employee in setting individual goals for themselves.

Example 2:

In the financial banking industry, tasks for the teller are often mundane and repetitive, as most of the customer requests are the same transactions or services. For those employees that want more, a sense of achievement and the change to partake in challenges are often motivating factors. In the course of my career as a bank teller, I obtained many extra responsibilities in the work environment. These responsibilities made me a more satisfied employee because they allowed me to have a sense of achievement while giving me the opportunity to prove myself to the employers. It was from a deficit I felt within that urged me to work towards the achievements in order to fill the void.

Example 3:

It would be false to say that deficit is the only cause for motivation. In the example that bankers were…