Managers 'must relate to individuals' in motivation

Date: 23/02/2009

Everyone is motivated in one way or another, a human resources expert argues, though people need to understand what motivates individuals before attempting to implement a scheme.

Susan M Heathfield, a specialist writing for About.com, states that motivating employees necessitates a split to be made between love and money, or the desires and the job itself.

Commenting on business ethics, she stated that the main challenge lies in the need to tap into intrinsic performance-building motivators, particularly given the "chaotic" and "turbulent" environment people work within now.

Ms Heathfield continued: "Yet in spite of the myriad of available theories and practices, managers often view motivation as something of a mystery.

"In part, this is because individuals are motivated by different things and in different ways."

Earlier this month, Victoria Moore told Personnel Today that recognition programmes used to motivate employees should reward and value long service and loyalty in order to avoid discrimination risks.

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