PSYCHOLOGY - Motivation

The Definition of Motivation

Often, people confuse the idea of 'happy' employees with 'motivated' employees. These may be related, butmotivation actually describes the level of desire employees feel to perform, regardless of the level of happiness. Employees who are adequately motivated to perform will be more productive, more engaged and feel more invested in their work. When employees feel these things, it helps them, and thereby their managers, be more successful.

It is a manager's job to motivate employees to do their jobs well. So how do managers do this? The answer ismotivation in management, the process through which managers encourage employees to be productive and effective.

Think of what you might experience in a retail setting when a motivated cashier is processing your transaction. This type of cashier will:

• Be friendly, creating a pleasant transaction that makes you more likely to return
• Process your transaction quickly, meaning that the store can service more customers
• Suggest an additional item you would like to purchase, increasing sales for the store

In short, this employee is productive and delivers a high-quality output.