2.1.1 Importance of Motivation
Instruction :
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Go through all instructions and course details thoroughly before starting each lesson or activity.
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Watch the attached video lessons attentively and take clear, organized notes in your notebook.
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Write all answers for the attached worksheets in your notebook. Make sure your work is neat and properly labeled.
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Revise your notes and completed worksheets after each lesson to reinforce understanding.
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If you face any difficulty or have questions, note them down and contact your instructor or course coordinator for guidance.
Click to download the Video Lecture Handout.
Good morning everyone. Today we’re going to discuss the importance of having a well-motivated workforce.
Now, motivation might sound like a big word, but in simple terms, it’s all about what makes people want to work hard and do their best.
Think about yourselves – why would you study hard for exams? Maybe because you want good grades, or maybe because you want your parents to be proud.
It’s the same with employees in a business. They work for different reasons. Some work to earn money, some want job security,
others want respect and recognition, some want to achieve their personal goals, and many also enjoy being part of a team.
So, what exactly is motivation? Motivation is the drive or energy that makes a person behave in a certain way.
In business, it’s what pushes employees to work harder, stay committed, and remain loyal to the company.
A motivated employee is usually more productive, more reliable, and less likely to leave the job.
Now, let’s look at the benefits of a well-motivated workforce. First, higher productivity – when employees are motivated, they get more done,
and often with better quality. Imagine a worker in a factory who gets praised for good work; they’ll probably try even harder.
Second, reduced absenteeism – motivated employees actually want to come to work, so they don’t take unnecessary sick days.
Third, lower labour turnover – if people enjoy their work, they are less likely to leave, which saves the business the cost of hiring and training new staff.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow explained motivation through his Hierarchy of Needs. He said that people are motivated by different levels of needs.
At the bottom are basic needs like food and shelter, which in a job means fair wages. Next comes safety, like job security or health benefits.
Above that are social needs, such as teamwork and friendship at work. Then come esteem needs – respect, recognition, and promotions.
Finally, at the top is self-actualisation, which means achieving your full potential, like being given challenging work that helps you grow.
Managers need to understand these levels to motivate their employees effectively.
There are also other theories of motivation. Frederick Taylor believed money was the main motivator. He thought work should be broken into simple tasks
and that workers should be paid based on how much they produce, like in piece-rate systems. But one problem with this is that it ignores other needs,
like recognition or job satisfaction. On the other hand, Frederick Herzberg had a different idea. He said there are two types of factors.
Hygiene factors, like salary, working conditions, and company policies. These don’t really motivate people, but if they are missing, workers become unhappy.
Then there are motivators, like achievement, recognition, responsibility, and interesting work. These are the things that truly inspire people to work harder.
So, according to Herzberg, a company must fix the hygiene factors first, but also focus on motivators if they want employees to perform their best.
To sum up, motivation is what drives employees to work well. People work for different reasons, from money and security to respect and personal growth.
A motivated workforce means higher productivity, fewer absences, and loyal workers who stay longer. Managers can use ideas from Maslow, Taylor,
and Herzberg to create better workplaces. Remember, a well-motivated workforce is one of the biggest strengths any business can have.
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