Motivating Your Employees - Sound Science

The Hierarchy of Needs was developed by Abraham Maslow as part of his attempts to understand and show the basic needs and wants of the average human. His work was based on research conducted by the brightest minds of his time. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs focuses on the various levels of human thought: Physiological needs, Survival Needs, Social Belonging and Love, Self-Esteem, and finally Self Actualization. A human is only able to reach self actualization after working their way up through the lower levels though.

Basic physical needs, such as food and sleep, form the lowest level of the hierarchy. These are the factors humans need in order to survive. Employers who ensure that employees' basic physical needs are satisfied will set the proper environment so the employees can work effectively. It is nearly impossible to concentrate on work when a worker is physically uncomfortable, such as when the temperature is too hot or too cold. Effective employers will take measures to meet these basic needs so employees can work in comfort without being distracted.

Employees need to feel secure. This is the second level of the hierarchy of needs. An employer should create this security with his workers by conveying that their jobs are safe and financially rewarding. If an employee believes that he is soon to be laid off, he will most certainly not work as hard as possible. He may even go further by disrupting the work of others or sabotaging some aspect of the job simply for revenge.

The third level of the Hierarchy deal with one's need to be loved and belong. It is critical for an employer to help employees develop friendships with each other. An employer can create this environment by scheduling events or pairing similar people to work together so they build a bond. In doing this a environment that employees like working in will be developed.

People have the need to feel as though they are part of a group. This is the fourth level of a person's esteem. In group situations, we have the ability to feel emotions of achievement and confidence. We start to gain the respect of others which in return boosts our self-esteem. An employer can create activities outside of work to help engage his employees. Whether it is a team sport or relay picnic event, co-workers can bond over the activities, have a great time, and boost their confidence in themselves.

Self-actualization, the ability to solve problems and use our creativity, is Maslow's final level. This level also involves our moral compass, and can only be accessed once all of the lower levels mentioned have been achieved. We need self-actualization to become truly mature men and women.

Daiv Russell is a management and marketing consultant with Envision Web Promotion. Read more Management Articles, learn about Abraham Harold Maslow and the Maslow pyramid of needs.

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