MOTIVATION TALK

                          TOPIC: “MOTIVATE YOURSELF”

                     By: Anthony Bwembya     Asst. Registrar 

Motivation is one of the most widely discussed topics not only in many boardrooms but in Management studies as well. In traditional management studies, it is said that one of the core functions of management is to motivate subordinates. Arising from the foregoing, it becomes pertinent to understand the nature of motivation. 

Most management teams expend a lot of resources in attempting to motivate staff but end up being disappointed as their efforts seem to be in vain. In several instances management may introduce incentives, perks or benefits in the hope that staff may be motivated to perform better. The results are usually disappointing leaving the management teams usually with no option but to write off staff as an ungrateful lot not worth any efforts to “appease”.  

However, recent studies have shown that people who are encouraged to put more into their work due to anticipated benefits are not motivated at all! They can only put in up to their subjective measure of the anticipated benefits and nothing more. Such individuals cannot be said to be motivated. A motivated person is one who wants to do everything to his level best. This is owing to the fact that motivation is an internal thing that can only be stimulated by the individual himself. It cannot be ignited by external factors such as anticipated benefits. Mack Douglas in his book “How to make a habit of succeeding” argues that it is beliefs and not benefits that motivate a man. Thus a person who believes that his work is contributing to the good of others, to the strengthening of society, to the benefit of many other individuals and thereby goes about putting in his level best is a truly motivated man. Hence the role of management is to seek to cultivate positive beliefs among staff so that each one of them, motivated by their own internal convictions will put in their level best. Equally, staff should not look up to external influences such as anticipated benefits in order to be motivated. They should seek to develop positive beliefs that it is just good to perform to your level best, it is just good to make a difference, it is just good to leave your customer satisfied, etc.  Motivation is internal!!!!  Therefore let each one of us motivate himself or herself.