The Importance of Motivation as a Company Strategy The literature abounds with evidence supporting the efficacy of employee motivation as a means of stimulating innovation, productivity, and organizational performance. For example, a survey of over 300 employees in one major organization found that employee empowerment in their respective roles was positively correlated with organizational agility, with empowerment being defined in terms of knowledge access, trust, motivation, and communication. Research on the relationship between employee motivation and organizational outcomes therefore begins with operationalization of the definitions of motivation and empowerment, as well as defining the terms of organizational success. Empowerment and motivation will manifest differently for different people, just as different organizations will define their success or outcome objectives differently depending on overall mission and vision.

Communication as a Component in Employee Motivation

If motivation is defined in terms of empowerment via access to pathways of knowledge and information, then employee motivation starts with the formal establishment of communications channels. Open flow of information between parties in the organization promotes empowerment because it implies trust. Being trusted formally—as a matter of company policy and practice rather than the selective dissemination of trust based on potentially biased managerial decisions—is a cornerstone of employee empowerment. For example, Dasgupta, Suar & Singh (2014) found a “collaborative...

287). Corporate culture needs to promote the flow of information, knowledge and communications in its own cultural context, establishing the role model for a company culture based on trust and employee empowerment.
Management practices need to follow the principles of trust and communication, to establish the precedent and normative environment in which employees can thrive and reach their highest potential. Research substantiates claims that culture is the key to inspiring trust, employee engagement, and empowerment with the goal being organizational success. Simoneaux & Stroud (n.d.) claim management “should encourage employee involvement and accountability at all levels and exhibit consistency in applying company policies,” (p. 51). Everything from the hiring process to the rituals and ceremonies that solidify company culture, managers have the opportunity to empower, inspire, and motivate employees. Yet motivation extends beyond the creation of a strong company culture. Establishing a strong company mission, based on values of corporate social responsibility, remaining dedicated to ethical principles, and sticking to a policy of accountability are also crucial components in a strategy designed to stimulate motivation. Employees need not just to be and feel trusted through open lines of communication,…