Motivation
Definition
Motivation is the internal drive that compels individuals to act towards achieving their goals. In the context of business, it specifically refers to how managers can inspire employees to perform at their best and contribute to organizational objectives.
Analogy
Motivation in the workplace is like the fuel in a car; just as a car needs fuel to move forward, employees need motivation to push forward and achieve their tasks efficiently. Without it, just as a car would stall and not reach its destination, workers may lack the drive to complete their goals, impacting overall business performance.
Related terms
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943, suggesting that people are motivated by five basic categories of needs - physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Herzberg's Two: Factor Theory - A concept that divides workplace factors into two categories - hygiene factors that can cause dissatisfaction if missing but do not necessarily motivate if increased, and motivators that truly encourage employees to work harder.
Expectancy Theory: A theory stating that an individual's motivation is influenced by their expectation of the outcome or reward for their effort and how much they value that outcome
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