Need-Based Theories Of Motivation

Motivation is the factors or reasons that direct and energize particular behavior of humans or other organisms (cite: book). People need to motivation to eat, play, rest –to satisfy the basic needs –as well as to carry out the day to day activities such study for exams or perform at workplace. There are theories introduced to explain motivation.

One school of theories is the Need theories or the Need Based Theories of motivation. They explain motivation in terms of needs of an individual or factors that should be satisfied in order for a person to be motivated to execute a particular behavior. These could be either extrinsic or intrinsic factors. Need theories can be used to motivate individuals at schools or work places.

There are four need-based

This comprises of food, air, water shelter, personal safety, clothing, job security etc. Relatedness stands for the third and the fourth levels of hierarchy of Needs, namely the need for love and belongingness and external esteem. This stage of needs include the healthy social relationships of a person such as friendship, family, relations between coworkers or colleagues etc. and factors such as respect and acceptance. The third and the final stage or the factor of the ERG theory is Growth. The needs for this stage consist of internal esteem and self-actualization. This stage focuses on the need for achievement, self-esteem, self-respect, personal growth in both work and life and realizing their full

To motivate their employees the managers should fulfill the three stages of the ERG theory. In work place setting the existence need could be fulfilled by money (salary) to buy food, provide for shelter and confirm personal safety measures. Ensuring job security also can be a way of satisfying this need. Relatedness needs are the social relationships between coworkers, bosses, good team work, acceptance and respect from his colleagues. By maintaining a good relationship with the employees, allowing their employees to maintain good work relationships with each other and retaining a peaceful and respectful environment in the work place, managers can gratify relatedness needs of their employees. This stage also focuses on personal relationships as if a person is not having supportive or healthy relations with his family, he might not be motivated enough to work properly. The needs for internal esteem and self-actualization or growth needs at a work place situation would be the ability to develop ones skills, professional career, personal value, achieve self-respect and be creative and productive (cite:blue). Mangers in a company can help their employees confirm these needs by creating a work atmosphere where the employee’s skills are recognized, healthy competition is present, room for personal creativity is allowed, good work is appreciated, advances when