What motivation is relevant to me?
The fact that I chose to analyse McClelland’s theory over the other options I think shows a particular characteristics of mine which fits ideally into McClelland’s theory. McClelland’s theory outlines three main aspects to a person characteristic, whether they are motivated by a need for achievement, by a need for authority or a need for affiliation. I don’t know one person, who fits perfectly into these categories; however, the combination of all three needs in a person’s characteristics would create in my opinion the ideal worker, manager and well-rounded person; as explained in Zarb, P.J.M.F.G. (2000) Managment. 3rd ed. New York : Educaitonal series. Inc
David McClelland Discusses his theory of needs (19th march 2011 ) Directed by Mariam. Mariam03293. [www.youtube.com/watch?v=McHoc0ht1jY].
McClelland’s first idea of being motivated due the need for achievement at first seems quite straight forward, but upon looking further this character is quite complex. Being self-motivated is one trait, as although achievement is the main idea it is not a person who needs praise, not someone who does an action to please someone else, but the personal sense of accomplishment through means of factual feedback. People who are achievement motivated do not like to leave things to chance, they like to work hard on an achievable issue, and feel good at a job well done; they are not gamblers.
Power Hungary is a term widely used by a variety of people to describe someone who thrives on being in charge of people and events. If you as a person are motivated by authority and powers then you are someone who wishes to be influential on someone else’s life, usually to have some sort of control over them. People who are motivated by power and authority base their lives around what status they hold, they would not be happy being under someone else’s management or being told what to do, they want to be the people doing the telling, they want to be at the top. This creates a good manager, but could mean that the person is very hard to work with, very controlling and not really willing to work as part of a team.
Some people naturally want to be popular, though out school, social and work there are always certain people who everyone knows, and these people can be defined by their motivation for their need for affiliation. Being Affiliation motivated means that a person needs to create relationships with other people. This sort of person would put being friendly over any other trait, and although this does create a good team player and would be motivated, in regards to being a manager, the affiliation motivated individual would struggle to manage people due to there need to please.
McClelland’s particular favourite theory focus was on the people who fit into the Achievement motivated category, and he continued to develop his ideas by performing experiments. He came up with the conclusion that people either possess the idea that it is important that they do a job well done, and that if you do suit this type of character that you continually set goals. I think I possess this need to achieve, this need to do well and to feel accomplishment, though out all aspects of my life I always set myself targets and won’t stop working at a problem in till I have finished it to the best of my ability.
I think I am in a point in my life where I am the most motivated. I come from a small town miles away and have been put into a place out of my comfort zone; I have managed to acquire a job and have really had to use my time management skills well to balance out all my life. The way that I am out of my usual routine and having to make a new one, and follow new rules, have allowed me to I think become more motivated to do well in all aspects of my work, university and social life. It is this determination that I hope will carry me through my time at Buckinghamshire new university and allow me to become a better-rounded person.
This shows how I have had to adapt and fit into McClelland’s theory in all ways, I am being achievement motivated by wanting to get a good degree, I am being motivated by a need for affiliation where I have been making new friends in my new surroundings. I am also briefly being motivated by authority, as I have applied to become a student rep, where if successful, would mean that I could have an influence over people’s lives.
My main motivation for coming to university is the goal of getting a good degree and in the future getting a good job from the hard work I have put in. This motivation I plan on keeping up throughout my three years at university and follow the idea of being motivated by achievement. To follow this idea, I am going to attend all lectures, and do about 3 hours of work per module a week outside of my lecture. Another motivation while at university however is money, as being a student and l;iving on my own I need money to live, this is why I have acquired a part time job, and although I do not enjoy the work, my motivation for being there is the money, this fits into Hertzberg’s hygiene factors as explained by “The motivation to work” By Frederick Herzberg, Bernard Mausner, Barbara Bloch Snyderman Collins, K. (2008) Exploring Business. First ed.
Unknown (n.d.) abrahammaslow [online]. Available from: http://www.abrahammaslow.com/m_motivation/Hierarchy_of_Needs.asp [Accessed: 15h Oct 2011].
and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
What has made me de-motivated, why did I feel like this? Applied this to all the theories discussed in the lecture. What happened to get me more motivated? What would I do differently?
I would say that I am generally demotivated at work. Although as explained above, money is my main motivator, it does not actually make me want to do a really good job, I just turn up and do my time, wait to go home; whereas a business wants to have people willing to go the extra mile to make a difference to the company. Elton Mayo another motivation theorist believed that workers are not just concerned with money but could be better motivated by having their social needs met whilst at work, this in my case also has not been met, as people are very demanding and un-sociable at my work place. This is an example of where I have had my hygiene factors met in reference to the ideas of Hertzberg, but my motivators are not. I think if I was given more promotional activities, or praise, or given more responsibility then I would become more motivated. Currently at my job I feel I am on the bottom level of the hierarchy, and am willing to progress to the top, and reach self-actualisation, however I need to be given more from my management team in order to motivate me to progress up the triangle.
In my past I became very demotivated during my GCSE exams, where I had not done very well on a practice exam test, this left me feeling bad, as my teachers rather than being happy and encouraging, were disappointed in me. I took this personally and felt like I should not try any longer, as when I had tried it still did not help. If I could of gone back, I should of taken the criticism from my teacher as constructive criticism, and followed McClelland’s achievement motivator, and it should of made me try harder. A characteristic that I now possess.
My previous job before I had to relocate to attend university I feel I was nearing the Self-actualisation stage in the triangle. I had been there for two years and felt that my responsibilities within the business increased as my knowledge of the business grew, and the stronger the relationships between staff and customers got, and the more praise and responsibilities I was given made me want to do more to help the company, and therefore made me more motivated to improve myself and together in the work place. This is the sort of working environment all people want, especially managers, and I think it was also one stage in my life for which that I was motivated.
I think that motivation is not just down to the management style, but also to do with the way your life is set out. The way in which you are motivated I feel can somewhat be inherited through your life style, for example, I think I have my character traits from the way my parents have given me, people through primary socialisation are designed to be either motivated hard workers, or designed to be gamblers.
Conclusion which evaluates my findings
Shah, K.S.&.P.P.J. (2000-2010) LAYNETWORKS [online]. Available from: http://www.laynetworks.com/TYPES-OF-MOTIVATION.html [Accessed: 16th Oct 2011].
To some extent the other motivational theories fit into McClelland’s ideas, People who are motivated are categorised by him; however the motivation is also based on other ideas and concepts, either through. Frederick Herzberg is also a motivation theorist and has ideas based on basic hygiene factors being the basis for motivation, people need the basics of food, water, warmth et cetera to begin to be motivated, and I think this does apply to McClelland’s ideas as well, without basic needs who would fit into his ideas of achievement, authority, or affiliation?
McClelland’s ideas explain the main process of motivation, but does not really look at demotivation, for that I think you need to look again at a different type of theorist, I feel the person who best explains the idea of demotivation is Maslow; are based around a person’s Hierarchy of needs and that as a person progresses up the hierarchy that they become more motivated.
Clearly by looking at the wide variety of theories, it shows that people are very individual when it comes down to how they are motivated, it depends on the way they have been primary socialised, it depends on their financial status, and by their outside determiners. Showing why it is that it takes time, and a vast variety of techniques to be a good motivator. “You don’t motivate individuals. You provide them with an environment to be self-motivated. It is a personal decision, but it is management’s job to provide the right environment.” Kathy Schofiels, Director of human Resources, HFC Bank
Bibliography
Collins, K. (2008) Exploring Business. First ed.
David McClelland Discusses his theory of needs (19th march 2011 ) Directed by Mariam. Mariam03293. [www.youtube.com/watch?v=McHoc0ht1jY].
Mulins, L.J. (2002) Management and Organisational Behaviour. Sixth Edition ed. Essex: Financial Times Pitman Publishing Imprint.
Shah, K.S.&.P.P.J. (2000-2010) LAYNETWORKS [online]. Available from: http://www.laynetworks.com/TYPES-OF-MOTIVATION.html [Accessed: 16th Oct 2011].
Unknown (n.d.) abrahammaslow [online]. Available from: http://www.abrahammaslow.com/m_motivation/Hierarchy_of_Needs.asp [Accessed: 15h Oct 2011].
Zarb, P.J.M.F.G. (2000) Managment. 3rd ed. New York : Educaitonal series. Inc.
An excellent first blog Chloe, you discuss the relevant theories in depth and create links to your own experiences, well done.
ReplyDeleteCheck your referencing style.