In five to ten years I see myself as a loan officer working
for a bank or a private company. At this future point I hope to be living
comfortably and I suspect that economic incentives will no longer be as
motivating as they currently are to me as a college student.
I want to work for an organization that views their
employees as a source of a competitive advantage. That way, the employees would
be valued, trusted and empowered. This type of organization would naturally incentivize
its employees by giving them autonomy. I think autonomy is an important
motivator because I like to make my own decisions based on my judgment of what
is best. I don’t want to have to break out the big book of rules every time a
problem arises.
I think another incentive that would motivate me is the
gratification I would feel after I know that I helped someone go through the
process of buying their first home, for example. Also, the pride of mastery
would be motivating. I want to be the helpful person that makes the loan
process easy for any customer to understand. This would make me feel respected
and prideful.
Looking at Maslow’s theory of needs, I think once the safety
needs are met, economic incentives no longer motivate effectively. Other
incentives need to be introduced to motivate employees. Some examples include:
autonomy, mastery, and emotional commitment to work.
Source:
http://www.EnvisionSoftware.com/articles/Maslows_Needs_Hierarchy.html#Physiological_Needs
I can't wait for the day when economic incentives aren't our only/main motivator. I too enjoy autonomy and the feeling on empowerment when you achieve something on your own. An example for me is making a to-do list and as I finish things crossing them off. It's a very simple thing but it makes me feel accomplished. I moved to PA from Maine so autonomy became second nature to me, so if it was ever taken away I would feel out of sort and useless.
ReplyDeleteYour post is very refreshing! If money is taken off the table, I too feel that money would no longer be a motivator as long as I am living fairly comfortably. I hope that one day I too work for a company that gives their employees respect and empowerment! So many people have so many strengths that when you capitalize on them, companies can truly profit. It also allows for people to be motivated and feel important by the company. So, not only does your workforce want to do their job better, they are more loyal to that company to do such a good job. To me following these guidelines of motivation seem like a win/win for everyone. (Not to mention you are not spending so much on salaries, but on things that actually better people.)
ReplyDeleteI am living very comfortably now and money is still a motivator. Money drives everything that we do in this country and if you want to continue making a good living you have to continue making money. Prices go up constantly so money must follow. Unfortunately anyone that says money doesn't motivate them must not have had a wad of cash waved in front of them. Since I started college money has not been an issue for me and yet I still find that it does motivate me along with mastery. I also find that when employers view their employees as a competitive advantage rather than a person they tend to mistreat rather than respect their workers. If everytime they talk and look at you they try to find a way to use you for their goals, that is not going to create a friendly environment.
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