Motivating people: Getting beyond money

[Sergei82]

Sitting in the office, watching more and more farewell parties every week and browsing some gloomy articles at the same time...

What do you think about this (there are plenty of similar things online):
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Motiva ... money_2460

Isn't it much better to work for a friendly pat on your shoulder from your director and some attention from your manager? Money is evil, isn't it?

OR IT IS NOT?????? I saw only one guy mentioning Maslow pyramid in comments...

[v4jr4]

As lazy as it sounds, I can't help but to think that money is the easiest tool to motivate most people. I don't think it's wrong to put ourselves in the first priority, since a pat from manager won't satisfy physical hunger. I'm with Maslow for this.

Money isn't evil, since it's one of the accepted tools to gain something that we can devour. Greed is

[Sergei82]

The only thing better than the pat from a manager is a pat from two managers!

Unfortunately, employers tend to purposely forget Maslow during annual performance reviews or job interviews. Especially nowadays... One even approached me with 6-months contract opportunity for 15% salary increase... and was surprised I declined it in favour to what I have now.

Btw, in our company they use job security as a motivator. They think, if we keep the same salary and don't pay bonuses, but don't lay off people, motivation will stay high. As a result, the best people who worth something are leaving the company massively since job market is not completely empty.

[nakatago]

"A pat on the back" and "a job well done" are talking points used by a lot of companies to excuse their inability to pay their employees well. These are the types that in order to raise profits, will cut costs by underpaying employees.

You want motivated employees? Give both--a fulfilling career and good enough pay.

Also, those farewell parties, it's January--some people have already gotten their bonuses and hence itching to get out since last year.

[x9200]

You want motivated employees? Give both--a fulfilling career and good enough pay.

Very true. What people seldom realize having a good pay without career growth opportunities is much more lethal than being underpaid with an AH boss.

[v4jr4]

You want motivated employees? Give both--a fulfilling career and good enough pay.

Pretty hard to find such place

Also, those farewell parties, it's January--some people have already gotten their bonuses and hence itching to get out since last year.

Are you referring to yourself as well?

[Wd40]

One thing I have learnt the hard way is: Never love your company, love your work, because you never know when your company stops loving you.

I have been in this company for the last 3.5 years and I had always thought this is the dream job, it had everything, good pay, good work-life balance infact the balance was heavily tilted towards life than work The only thing that was missing was that I wasn't growing or learning anything new. But I didnt care because I loved the company.

Now the company is asking me to find another love and I am finding it hard to get any decent job in this market. I wish I had taken up the offer I got from another company 4 months ago, but then at that time I was deeply in love with my company and had no idea this is coming

[v4jr4]

One thing I have learnt the hard way is: Never love your company, love your work, because you never know when your company stops loving you.

Or, in other words, they find someone else with cheaper tag.

[Wd40]

One thing I have learnt the hard way is: Never love your company, love your work, because you never know when your company stops loving you.

Or, in other words, they find someone else with cheaper tag.

Well, in case of MNCs that usually doesnt happen. Either the position itself goes away alltogether or it goes to another cheaper country.

The case you are telling are cheapo employers. Those companies nobody loves in the first place.

[Brah]

+1

and worse, the illusion of opportunities while it's all fiefdom-building and who brings in their own flock

You want motivated employees? Give both--a fulfilling career and good enough pay.

Very true. What people seldom realize having a good pay without career growth opportunities is much more lethal than being underpaid with an AH boss.

[earthfriendly]

They say there is little difference in happiness between a person making 50k and one making a million dollars per year. Eventually we will get so burnt out by the rat race and so unfulfilled that we start looking for an alternative like Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index.

Whenever this song comes on radio, I am overcome by a sense of poignancy.

"I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad
Buy all of the things I never had........."

[JR8]

They say there is little difference in happiness between a person making 50k and one making a million dollars per year.

I'm not sure who 'They' is, but I'm a living and breathing observer and witness. I can tell you life is SO much happier on a $1m than $50k.

Your position smacks of the self-loathing guilt of some of the 'arrived'. IME it's usually from those handed their opportunities and 'success' on a plate. Something I'm impervious to I think, as I earned and earn every freakin cent of it.

[earthfriendly]

Have we met? You seem to know me so well huh, down to my financial position . It is taken from the documentary "Happy". I mis-quoted the figures.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/4-keys ... iness.html


"Someone who makes $150,000 a year isn’t necessarily any happier than someone who brings home $40,000 a year. "

[JR8]

So you give away most of your money, in order to be happier?

Oh no... you don't.

[earthfriendly]

It is not about viewing money as an enemy but rather taking a balance approach lah. Understanding how much one needs to feel happy and comfortable and not let money override one's life.