So what motivates a person?
To motivate a person or project team member it is important to understand human behavior. There are different factors which motivates different people in their life. As per Abraham Maslow, the popular theorist there is a Hierarchy of Needs for each individual. The Hierarchy of Needs has five stages. Each human being goes through this hierarchy.
Each individual stays in these five stages for different period of time. It is also not surprising to find people who have never move to the next stage. You can find people in your team who are always motivated by just one need.
So what are these Stages?
Stage 1: Physiological
This is the first stage. People who are going through this stage are motivated by money, incentives, bonus and other financial rewards. So as a project manager, you can look for motivating them through salary increase or bonuses or by other financial mean.
Stage 2: Safety
This is the second stage. People who are going through this stage are motivated by environment, facilities and high end logistics, equipment which they get to work on. So as a project manager, you can look for motivating these kinds of resources through improving office environment, giving them latest and upgraded system, laptop, Smartphone’s etc to work with. People at this stage looks for quality of logistics they get to work upon.
Stage 3: Social
This is the third stage. People who are going through this stage are motivated by working with like-minded people. They enjoyed the company of their peers and colleagues. So as a project manager, you can look for motivating these kinds of resources through improving team working environment. People at this stage should get the feeling that they are playing important role in the team.
Stage 4: Ego
This is the fourth stage. As the word suggests people who are going through this stage are motivated by status and reputation that a job brings to them. They join a company or project that brings a reputation to them. So as a project manager, you can look for motivating these kinds of resources through the extra benefits they received from the project. The project reputation and value is also important factor to consider for such resources.
Stage 5: Self Actualization
This is the last stage. People who are going through this stage are motivated by training them self with new learning, skills and new challenges. They want to develop their skills. They enjoyed getting training or career development opportunities. So as a project manager, you can look for providing or nominating them for trainings and career development opportunities.
...it always helps to know something about your project team member so that you can contribute more positively towards his goal in his career and life.
Thanks for reading this post.
