Motivational Methods and Techniques - Essay Example

? It is important for organizations such as hospitals to keep their employees motivated in order to run a successful organization. Whenever employeesare not motivated their job performance suffers. In a hospital setting the doctors, nurses, orderlies, and other staff must maintain a high level of motivation in order to keep the morale of the patients at a satisfactory level. Hospital employees that are not motivated to perform their job are a liability because they are more likely to commit mistakes than motivated workers. The persons responsible for keep the morale and motivation of employees high are the managerial staff of the organization. The purpose of this paper is to discuss various motivational techniques that can be used to improve the workplace environment at Martin Army Community Hospital Pharmacy department. ` One of the basic elements that must be present for motivation to occur is good communication between the management and the workers. It is the responsibility of the managerial staff to keep the lines of communication open at all times. “Organizations which encourage an open and easy correspondence between seniors and subordinates, face lesser employee turnover” (Buzzle, 2012). A way for managers to improve the communication process in order to keep the employees motivated is by scheduling weekly meetings with the staff. During these meetings the staff is fully encourage to voice their opinion. The use of technology can also enhance the communication process at a hospital. It is common for doctors to have pagers or cellular phones to receive important messages regarding their job duties. A motivated doctor will make good use of the capabilities of smartphones due to the fact that devices can be programmed to have medical applications that provide doctors with valuable medical information. The hospital as an institution must provide training and development to its employees to ensure the employees are not intimidated by technological solutions. Employees that do not understand technological tools get frustrated and lose motivation at work. There are motivational theories that the hospital can utilize in order to improve the motivation of its employees. One of the most renounce motivational theories is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory offers a pyramid of physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization (Schermerhorn, Hunt, Osborn, 2003). These five needs are divided into higher order and lower order needs. The lowest of all needs is physiological. Physiological needs are the most basic human needs which include biological maintenance, need for food, water, and sustenance. To meet these needs the hospital should have multiple water fountains across the facility. The hospital should also have two 15 minute breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. During these breaks the employees can eat a snack and rest a bit to continue the shift. The hospital should have a room with free coffee and hot chocolate for the employees. The second need in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is safety. Safety deals with the need for security, protection, and stability in the physical and interpersonal events of day to day life. The safety need of the employees of the hospital can be met by having a security guard present at the hospital at all times. The third lower order need is social. The social need deals with the need for love, affection, and a sense of belongingness in one relationship with other persons. Promoting teamwork is a great way to meet the social needs of the employees. The higher order needs tend to be more important for workers than lower order needs especially when the employee is moving up the corporate ladder. The higher order need of esteem deals with the employees’ desire for respect, prestige, recognition, self-esteem, and personal sense of competence. The managerial staff of the hospital must treat its employees with respect at all times. A way to show the employees that the managerial staff respects their efforts in the workplace is by empowering the workers. Empowerment can be defined as, “A management practice of sharing information, rewards, and power with employees so that they can take initiative and make decisions to solve problems and improve service and performance” (Businessdictionary, 2012). The other higher order need of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is self-actualization. Self-actualization is the highest level need. It deals with the need to fulfill oneself; to grow and use abilities to the fullest and most creative extend. A motivation tactic that can be used at Martin Army Community Hospital Pharmacy department to motivate the employees to perform at a higher level is reinforcement. “Reinforcement is the administration of a consequence as a result of behavior” (Schermerhorn, et al., 2003). A manager can provide reinforcement through the use of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. For instance a manager can give the employee congratulations on a job well done whenever the worker does outstanding work. The use of positive reinforcement is a great way to motivate employees. Its use tends to increase the likelihood of repeating desirable behavior. The use of motivational techniques and theories will improve the productivity of the staff at Martin Army Community Hospital Pharmacy department (Valencia). Employees that are motivated are more likely to express good vibes and superior customer service. Often the patients staying at a hospital get depressed due to their medical condition. Having employees that are motivated and full of life can go a long way towards improving the workplace environment at a hospital. People sometimes say that motivation comes from within, but in reality motivation is driven by the ability of the managers to keep the workers motivated. Keeping the lines of communication open is great way to ensure the full participation of the staff. A lack of communication can lead to interpersonal conflicts in the workplace. The implementation of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a great way to ensure that the workers basic needs are met. The use of reinforcement is another way to keep the workers motivated. Companies that utilize motivational techniques are more likely to succeed in the workplace environment of the 21st century. References Businessdictionary.com (2012). Empowerment. Retrieved September 9, 2012 from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/empowerment.html Buzzle.com (2012). Importance of Communication in the Workplace. Retrieved September 9, 2012 from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-communication-in-the-workplace.html Schermerhorn, J., Hunt, J., Osborn, R. (2003). Organizational Behavior (8th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. Valencia, C. Motivation and Productivity in the Workplace. Westminster College. Retrieved September 9, 2012 from http://www.westminstercollege.edu/myriad/index.cfm?parent=2514&detail=4475&content=4798 Read More