What Motivation is....

Motivation in management describes ways in which managers promote productivity in their employees. Learn about this topic, several theories of management, and ways in which this applies to the workplace. Use quiz questions to test your knowledge.

All of these tasks fall under one or more motivational theories.

The Definition of Motivation

Often, people confuse the idea of 'happy' employees with 'motivated' employees. These may be related, but motivation 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 is motivation 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.

How to Motivate Employees

There are many ways to motivate employees. Managers who want to encourage productivity should work to ensure that employees:

• Feel that the work they do has meaning or importance
• Believe that good work is rewarded
• Believe that they are treated fairly