Motivation Theory

                                                                                                Motivation
Many types of motivation theories have been made, such as Abraham Maslow’s (Maslow) hierarchy of needs, Frederick Herzbergs (Hertzberg)  two factor theory and also David mc clelland (Mc clelland) motivation needs theory but they all focus on motivation in different ways an example of one of the above theories is Maslow theory his hierarchy of needs ;
Maslow has a hierarchy of needs table, this table can be made into different types depending on what type of motivation that is being focused on for example personal motivation in society things that would help you be motivated and move up in society and reach self actualization in your  day-to-day life and also it can be used for motivation in the work force what staff basic needs are and what they need to do to move up in the business and to feel like as an employee they have reach self actualization.
I have included a table below to give you an idea on the hierarchy of needs table I have also attached a secondary research with this blog in a form as a video other people have expressed their views on the Maslow’s theory.  (Shown below):







Table taken from : (http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1DSGK_enGB397GB397&biw=1366&bih=667&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=work+maslows+hierarchy+of+needs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= )

Maslow’s theory is particularly relevant to me and my everyday life in society and in my work force as a student in university reaching self actualisation is one of the long term goals the degree would be the part of the hierarchy table that covers self actualisation.
Basic needs would be just attending university and being provided the education needed to move up, things that would come under safety needs would be CCTV in the institute that am attending is being received from, belongingness and love needs would be support and help from the teachers with all the above esteem needs would be accomplished by now due to all the help and support and basic needs and security making you feel good giving you the ego boost you need.
With the ego boost  feeling good about yourself and feeling like you can achieve many things and challenges in front of you self actualisation would be next upcoming step to take and this step will be relevantly easy at this stage due to previous stages of the hierarchy table.


To be motivated means to want to do something, you have a drive or passion about what it is you want to do, for myself coming to university and wanting to do well and gain a degree is motivation for me, my aspirations and goals are key motivations they motivate me long and short term, planning to stay within university for 2-3 years that can be classed as a long time to stay motivated and focused, other things keep me motivated as well as my aspirations and goals things such as:

 Having a job  that I like, work well at, enjoy and with good friendly managers and colleagues  motivates me I have another part in my life that I can focus on so I don’t think about education all the time also my mother motivates me, to think about making her proud and smile for her to be able to say “Yes that my daughter with the degree” gives me an ultimate long term motivation it pushes me and makes me want to strive to reach self actualisation.

Within Maslow’s hierarchy of needs I believe that the current  stage I have reached is within the 3 weeks I have been in university is “Belongingness and love needed”  the university that I am studying  at provides me my basic needs such as: toilets on every floor, teachers, a library for resources and water. The university also offers CCTV cameras and security personnel in the building so that gives a sense of safety which gives a calm atmosphere enabling motivation and also having the opportunity to join many clubs and societies and also having the lecturers personal e-mail address and office numbers makes me have the  “belongingness and love factor” .


Where there is motivation, de-motivation can also be found, being de-motivated can be a very negative effect on things that you do for example being de-motivated at work can slow down your performance or reduce the quality of the work you are doing, de-motivation can be caused by many of the stages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs not being met an example of this would be if you was at work and your basic needs were not met such as : brakes, clean toilets and water, all these things could make you de-motivated.
As a student in university many things can de-motivate me an example of this is if my lecturer is consistently late and unreachable, I would be de-motivated because not having the right support and information to complete assignments would bring me down and also if there were no toilets and libraries because I believe that they are basic needs as Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs shows without the basic needs you cannot move up and people cannot be motivated without the basic needs.

I have been de-motivated before and you don’t realise your de-motivated because it feels normal because you have got yourself into a routine and once in a routine it become the norm for your everyday life. I was de-motivated at my previous job as a waitress, feeling like I was not moving up and I was stuck doing the same thing day in and day out I felt like my work was not acknowledged and I ended up blending in with the furniture, this did not only cause de-motivation but also caused stress and irritation so I was not doing a good job anymore after some time, I didn’t really solve the situation all I did was leave the job and applied for a new one that would motivate me and I would be good at.
The motivation theory that is perfect to describe this situation that I was in would be Clayton P Alderfer’s ERG theory  ( shown below ):

Table taken from : (http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1DSGK_enGB397GB397&biw=1366&bih=667&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=work+maslows+hierarchy+of+needs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= )

Maslow’s theory is particularly relevant to me and my everyday life in society and in my work force as a student in university reaching self actualisation is one of the long term goals the degree would be the part of the hierarchy table that covers self actualisation.
Basic needs would be just attending university and being provided the education needed to move up, things that would come under safety needs would be CCTV in the institute that am attending is being received from, belongingness and love needs would be support and help from the teachers with all the above esteem needs would be accomplished by now due to all the help and support and basic needs and security making you feel good giving you the ego boost you need.
With the ego boost  feeling good about yourself and feeling like you can achieve many things and challenges in front of you self actualisation would be next upcoming step to take and this step will be relevantly easy at this stage due to previous stages of the hierarchy table.


To be motivated means to want to do something, you have a drive or passion about what it is you want to do, for myself coming to university and wanting to do well and gain a degree is motivation for me, my aspirations and goals are key motivations they motivate me long and short term, planning to stay within university for 2-3 years that can be classed as a long time to stay motivated and focused, other things keep me motivated as well as my aspirations and goals things such as:

 Having a job  that I like, work well at, enjoy and with good friendly managers and colleagues  motivates me I have another part in my life that I can focus on so I don’t think about education all the time also my mother motivates me, to think about making her proud and smile for her to be able to say “Yes that my daughter with the degree” gives me an ultimate long term motivation it pushes me and makes me want to strive to reach self actualisation.



Where there is motivation, de-motivation can also be found, being de-motivated can be a very negative effect on things that you do for example being de-motivated at work can slow down your performance or reduce the quality of the work you are doing, de-motivation can be caused by many of the stages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs not being met an example of this would be if you was at work and your basic needs were not met such as : brakes, clean toilets and water, all these things could make you de-motivated.
As a student in university many things can de-motivate me an example of this is if my lecturer is consistently late and unreachable, I would be de-motivated because not having the right support and information to complete assignments would bring me down and also if there were no toilets and libraries because I believe that they are basic needs as Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs shows without the basic needs you cannot move up and people cannot be motivated without the basic needs.

I have been de-motivated before and you don’t realise your de-motivated because it feels normal because you have got yourself into a routine and once in a routine it become the norm for your everyday life. I was de-motivated at my previous job as a waitress, feeling like I was not moving up and I was stuck doing the same thing day in and day out I felt like my work was not acknowledged and I ended up blending in with the furniture, this did not only cause de-motivation but also caused stress and irritation so I was not doing a good job anymore after some time, I didn’t really solve the situation all I did was leave the job and applied for a new one that would motivate me and I would be good at.
The motivation theory that is perfect to describe this situation that I was in would be Clayton P Alderfer’s ERG theory  ( shown below ):


Link from (http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&rlz=1C1DSGK_enGB397GB397&q=alderfer's%20erg%20theory&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1366&bih=667 )

In the job I was in I wasn’t  shown existence I felt unacknowledged and relatedness and this led to me not feeling like I could grow and become something within the business Alderfer shows three simple steps that I didn’t feel like I accomplished though out my time at the job, Alderfer shows needs in all the steps, existence, relatedness and growth needs I believe none of my needs were met.

Another motivation theorist would be David Mc Clellads he believed that everyone have fundamental needs that effects how we are motivated and how we motivate others.
diagram shown below :
n-ach: Need for achievement:Seeks achievement, attainment of goals and advancement. Strong need for feedback, sense of accomplishment and progress
n-affil: Need for affiliation:Need for friendships, interaction and to be liked.
n-pow: Need for power
Authority motivated needs to influence and make an impact. Strong need to lead and to increase personal status and prestige.




Table taken from : http://www.arrod.co.uk/archive/article_motivational_needs.php

I believe whilst working I had a need for achievement and affiliation whilst I wasn’t  receiving that I felt very de-motivated and felt like I no longer wanted to work in that establishment.


Conclusion  
Though this blog I have done a lot of research and I have found out a lot of information and gained my own opinions about motivation and motivation theorist, I have realized that most motivation theorist conducted their research in the USA so it brings the question that is it the same for the UK ? having this question in my head urged me to relate the theories to myself so I related the theorist to my own personal social life, education life And my work force life, the motivation theorist that I understand and relate to the most is Maslow’s the hierarchy of needs the concept of his theory is very easy to understand and for example the levels are easy and clear you cannot move up from one level to another without achieving the previous level for example : you cannot gain self actualisation without  your basic needs being met fist and also Aldefer’s theory is very clear and simple his concept is demonstrated though everyday life in businesses and organisation even in a government status for example being an MP,

E- Existence needs -  as an MP you’re in the role to be for recognition  people who are MP’s  are usually referred to as important people in society.

R- Relatedness needs – as an MP you would have a big EGO due to the title in which you hold.

G-growth – due to the position you are in most MP’s  want to grow and find them self in the Priminister  potion showing that they have grown. 
A popular example that I can be used to show this example is Edward Miliaband.
Firstly stated of as a regular MP(Existence needs) in his local area giving him an EGO( Relatedness needs) moving up and becoming in the public eye within the labour party now running a campaign to be leader of this party he may see this as self actualisation (Growth needs).


so I believe I now have a clear insight on motivation on the human behaviour in and out of the work force also relating the different theories to my work and social life gives me more of a greater understanding in why motivation theorist found it important to research and understand the uses of motivation, because they have now been able to use it to their advantage and by creating a good stable motivating work force.