Money is the Only True Motivator in the Workplace - Article Example

Money is the only true Motivator in the Workplace" - How true or false is the ment? The world over money works to the advantage of different professionals. By this, one means that money works as a point of motivation which drives an employee towards his end goal. He understands what objectives he wishes to achieve if he knows beforehand that he will be paid a handsome salary or a monetary incentive – one which will open new pathways for his business avenues. The employee thus comprehends the real meaning behind money coming in as a source of motivation for him. He satisfies his thirst for money and tries his best to put his wholesome basis towards the assigned task or job at hand. The validity of this statement that “money is the only true motivator in the workplace” stands pretty correct in the present times because employees have been thinking on these lines more and more. However this cannot be entirely true, more so when employees understand that attaining a position of power and authority is equally significant for their overall personality building. Money then again is the main reason behind grabbing such positions of significance. This paper will try to dispel the impression that money is not only the real motivator at workplace, however it works to best effect if seen from the correctional viewpoints, in relation with workplace settings. The bottom line for any employee within the office settings is to earn money so that he could feed his family, look after his own self and overall, earn a credible and more authoritative character within the society that he belongs to. This would mean that the employee has to work more and give in tireless efforts which would suggest his complete attachment with the tasks at hand as well as the commitment that he must show on a proactive and consistent basis. The employees must also understand that money might give them worldly satisfaction but it is the mental peace or clarity of conscience which will provide them the real motivation for working day in day out. Unfortunately this is not the case in the time and age of today and more and more employees are falling in the trap of going for money without any thinking attached to their practical bases. However these employees cannot be blamed for what they are actually running after; since they have seen their elders doing the very same when they were young and active. Hence this is a fact which cannot be denied its due place in the related context of things and money thus remains a true motivator in the current times. (Geen, 1994) The financial hiccups that have happened at present have made money an even more motivating agent. This is because jobs are being downsized and employees shown the door, thanks to the policies which have been adopted by the different organizations. Thus the economic scenarios which have been taking place for quite a long time now has suggested that money attains the top most priority for a number of different employees, if not all of them. Before moving ahead further, it is important to understand what motivation in essence means. The simple definition of motivation is the desire or drive within an entity to perform at exception levels so that he could attain a goal. Now this goal could be different for different sets of people. For some, it could mean higher ranks, better grades or simply put – more money. Then again, each one of the human beings needs to be given the benefit of the doubt before he commits to understanding the real reason behind having motivation in the first place. It must be comprehended here that motivation works to the advantage of only those individuals who remain consistent in their acts, are firm believers in the theories of motivation and are attached with a composure which will make them winners at the end of the day. Thus motivation is considered very significant when people compare the same tenet with other principles of life, namely desire, the will and the objective behind achieving a particular task. Motivation is also important to get the work done in a manner which is close to one’s already thought out agendas. But then again, there must be a limit to one’s motivational levels. This person must not overdo and should remain in touch with his needs, wants and wishes before he thinks to follow the goals for which he is motivated, in the right manner or the lack thereof. Motivation is important today and ever after because it builds one’s sincerity with the tasks that he feels motivated for, finds his true feedback on the general attributes of the motivating agenda and lastly is satisfied with his overall motivational angle. Thus the definition of motivation is important to ascertain and understand before one decides to discern the exact manner in which this motivation is coming about and within the specific areas. As per the statement that “money is the only true motivator in the workplace,” one can fathom that money might include the different other factors as well because all of these would result in a person earning more money whilst being in a position of authority and power – in the workplace itself. Thus money comes with the attached notions of power, higher rank, incentives and so on. This is significant to know because money cannot exist as a motivating agent in vacuum. It must include with it different facets – all of which are then again the motivating factors for different individuals as well. Motivation for money however remains as the single most differentiating factor when looked from a broader angle. The perspective needs to be shifted all this while in order to remain committed to a task and thus manifesting the need for earning more money, on the part of an employee. The true test of an employee’s commitment to his work regimes thus happens when he is weighed on a pan where money is kept alongside him. He will show his attachment with gaining more money and thus giving his best shot in essence. It is however a different case altogether if an employee does not quite feel the same way and feels detached with earning money for his betterment and/or long term growth regimes. The viewpoints could be so very different and maddeningly diverse when one understands the nuances behind earning money and making the same as a true motivator. Money is indeed the sole motivator of an employee at workplace. However as discussed before, money comes with attached factors which are also deemed as pivotal in the making up of significance for money in the first place. Money could mean so much for an employee but absolutely next to nothing for another one. However the latter scenario hardly comes about due to the fact that money has been remarked as the most run after possessions that a man can ever have within his folds. Thus money and its different inter-linked sub forms will bring in the much needed motivation and drive that an employee wants to bolster his work ethos, improve his cultural understandings as related with work and lastly bring an overall effect of optimism for his environment. Since money is the sole motivator at workplace for employees, it can ask of them to give their very best on a consistent basis. This can actually work to a good measure for the sake of the top management since they will know beforehand that giving a raise or a bonus at the end of a particular task could mean so much for an employee. (Fonseca, 2002) More so, if they know the psyche of this individual then this could work in a doubly beneficial way. However every action that the organization takes in this regard needs to be backed up by solid reasoning and since a specific employee is being given a raise, there could be discrepancies both by other employees who could ask for the same measures, as well as the audit committee and the top management, the latter combining to give the manager a tough time, much to his dislike. However keeping employees who run after money all the time could be negative and suggest losses for the company in the long run. Also these employees might just switch as and when they are offered a better salary by the rival organization(s). This would mean disaster for the organization under question and hence giving out similar raises and bonuses must be understood within the proper thick of things. The issue of age does not deter the discussion involved with money working as a true motivator for employees. It has been seen that money works as a positive instigator for just about everyone at workplace, which implies that it could work to good effect for every Tom, Dick and Harry, notwithstanding his age, gender or any other facet of difference when it comes to segregating people on the basis of the already mentioned points. However it has been seen that the strugglers are most often prone to running after money as they are most concerned about their jobs, their settlements in life and the rush of blood which is happening within their folds. It is an early time period of such youngsters and they feel they must earn good money before they get older. This motivates them to switch jobs, take on different projects at the same time and thus remain disloyal to any single organization. However one cannot always blame these individuals since most of them are not guided in a proper manner. It is indeed the responsibility of their elders to tell them that running after money is dangerous and that they could land their own selves into trouble sooner rather than later. These elders must tell them the real method behind achieving success and also differentiate the words “success” and “money.” Unfortunately in this material world, the person who has the most money is considered a very successful individual, which is actually quite untrue in the real sense of the word. However the real motivation at workplace remains money and nothing else, which suggests the real value of money to one and all. Perhaps the value system within societies needs to be changed in such a manner that money has to be given a back seat. People need to understand that money would not buy them happiness on all occasions. But then again, there are some serious exceptional cases and with the changing times, quite a lot of these have come on the horizon. In essence, money will work wonders for the employees for a short term time duration but would not guarantee them success in the long run. This money would be spent lavishly and thus the employees would come back to square one. It could also mean that these employees save and invest money for their good times ahead and thus win the favor of their elders for all the righteousness which could be summed up. However from the standpoint of an organization, it is a given that money remains as a very important cog in the wheel and it must be used in a proper manner by the people who matter the most – the top management within the organizational reigns. In the end, it would be proper and fitting to state here that organizational behavior theories look at human resource mechanisms; all of which focus on motivating the employees in more ways than one. Money remains as one of the only true motivators for the employees to remain steadfast with their respective jobs and thus give in their very best, no matter how tiresome their lives have become or who difficult their domestic regimes are. The role of money coming in as an important instigator cannot be denied its due right within the related settings and this is one aspect which will continue to rule the roost no matter what happens. Bibliography FONSECA, Jose. (2002). Complexity and Innovation in Organizations. Routledge GEEN, R. (1994). Human motivation: A Psychological Approach. Wadsworth Word Count: 2,002 Read More