A successful leader knows how to motivate his or her underlings.  If you strive to become a manager or leader of people either in or out of the workplace do not underestimate the importance of motivation.    The right amount of motivation can mean a tremendous success while lack of motivation can lead to a dismal failure.

Motivation at Work

Statistics show that an employee that leaves a job can cost a company around $110M to replace.  As a supervisor it is your job to keep your employees happy and motivated to prevent attrition due to boredom or apathy.  It is your job as a manager of a group of people to get to know each person and find out what makes each one happy.  Some employees may stay motivated for that simple pat on the back at the end of the workday.  Another employee might need a more physical reward such as an extra ½ hour for lunch or a commendation in their file.  By knowing what motivates each employee your team cannot fail to achieve success.

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow studied psychology and developed a series of needs or motivations.  Once a person met one need they would climb the ladder to the next need and try and meet it.  The ladder would continue to be climbed until the final need, self-actualization was met.  You would be wise to study these needs, as they are a vital component to the importance of motivation.  The first need is the basics of life, food, shelter and warmth.  Next an individual seeks to feel safe and secure at home and at work.  The next rung up the ladder is a desire to feel like you belong to a group.  This is especially important in the work place.  Once an individual feels accepted by a group their next motivator is to achieve status and recognition from that group of peers.  The final step is self-actualization.  As a manager you want to be sure your employees feel accepted by their co-workers and are recognized for their achievements.

Goal Setting Theory

Goal setting theory focuses on the importance of motivation in achieving your goals.  This theory is a way to help employees meet their goals by motivating themselves. As a supervisor it is your job to sit with each employee and establish a set of goals for the employee to achieve.  Once the goals have been set your role becomes the coach and mentor gently guiding the employee towards their goals.

Motivating through Communication

Some of the most successful companies are run using self-guided teams.   The principal of motivation in this situation is the communication between the team members that drives the group to succeed.  As a part of this team it is vital to express your thoughts and ideas to help motivate the group.  As a manager it is your job to sit and listen to what everyone has to say and refrain from reacting negatively during the group meetings.  By staying upbeat and receptive to all ideas your are in essence motivating your employees.