make the right move - week 3
Mobilise: To marshal, bring together, prepare for action; to develop to a state of acute activity
MANAGEMENT BOOKS often talk about the 'carrot and stick' approach to motivation, which uses a combination of punishment and rewards to achieve results. The basic assumption is that people work best if they know the consequences of failing to meet goals and the rewards available for good performance.
However this model overlooks one vital factor. Unless people really want to do something, they are unlikely to put in the appropriate effort to get results. Consequently, a manager cannot set targets, demand effort and then sit back and wait for everything to happen.
It is also necessary to inspire, involve and empower, so that each member of the team feels driven to achieve personal and collective goals.
The key to success is to understand that different things motivate us in different ways. Research by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics suggests that women tend to be more concerned about equitable salary, opportunities for advancement and being perceived as valuable to the company. Men focus more on the company brand and the performance of the company's leaders.
Despite this, it is still important to be aware of the basic motivations that affect most of us. In this respect, the motivational model created by renowned American psychologist Frederick Irving Herzberg is now widely accepted as an excellent tool. His theory is that, in the workplace, people are generally driven by the need to satisfy basic 'hygiene' factors.