1 Answer

The Relationship between Motivation and Productivity!
April 11, 2012 by rebeccacurtis
It has been studied many times and proven that with increased motivation you will increase productivity. So my question is why are so many businesses taking away items that provide motivation and can directly effect productivity? I have seen this done not only in the payroll area of reducing peoples pay, requiring furloughs, and freezing salaries, but also in employee appreciation. It is understandable that companies are looking for any way to cut costs but are they truly calculating the true cost of making these cuts?

“Motivation and productivity are twin concepts in organizational development. First, motivation works as the means toward attaining productivity as an end. Another point: Motivation is the best cause to reach productivity as a favorable effect. Lastly, motivation is the stimulus to trigger productivity as a response. All these are concrete connections between the two factors.”

~http://www.brighthub.com/office/home/articles/83187.aspx

There are two basic ways to motivate a person. One is through extrinsic motivation or material satisfaction, and the other is through intrinsic motivation or providing intangible rewards. With the economy the way it is and the companies goals of cutting costs, it would make more sense for the companies to reduce their costs by developing an intrinsic strategic, instead of obliterating all costs to scrap all motivation strategies. I believe that removing all methods of motivation and thus reducing overall productivity can have a more costly effect on the company’s bottom line than if they maintained a small level of intrinsic motivational strategies.

Here are a few examples of how you can reward your employees through intrinsic means:

Verbal or Written Recognition of Achievements
Say “Thank You”, “Great Job”, or “Well Done” to show you appreciate their hard work.
Promote from Within Your Company
Create Informal Leadership Roles
Consistently Provide Development Opportunities
There are some additional benefits to increasing motivation than just increased productivity. You can also benefit from the following results:

Improved Morale
Lower Absenteeism
Higher Retention Rates
Improved Bottom-Line Results
So I urge you, if you are at a high enough level to influence management or are part of the management team that is making the cost cutting decision to carefully consider the balance needed for motivation to keep a highly productive work force.

http://efficiencyinlife.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/the-relationship-between-motivation-and-productivity/