Job satisfaction and motivation should be understood by both employers and employees. Most people spend more hours working than any other activity in their life. A person who is not satisfied and motivated in their work will see the effects in other aspects of life.
Below you will find the primary employee motivation factors for job satisfaction. Because each person is different, the priority of these will vary from individual to individual.
- Reward
Although salary isn’t the primary motivator for most people it is a mistake to minimize its impact. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs places physiological and safety needs as the most fundamental and are dominant until they are met.
A person who doesn’t feel like their compensation is adequate will quickly lose their motivation and become very dissatisfied with their job.
But salary is seen as much more than the means to buy food and provide shelter. Maslow placed esteem and self-actualization at the top of his hierarchy. A person's needs for self-esteem aren't fully met by the amount on their paycheck but it is important.
We see this when a highly-paid athlete wants more salary because one of his peers just signed a bigger contract than his. One high-profile college football coach actually has it in his contract that he will always make $1 more than any of his peers. I think his paycheck is a part of his self-esteem!
Everyone likes a reward!
- Recognition
Nobody likes to go unnoticed. If your work never gets acknowledged it is doubtful you will stay motivated. If you never acknowledge the work of others you will eventually find yourself with some very unhappy employees.
Proper and timely recognition coupled with a fair and adequate salary will usually result in high levels of job satisfaction and motivation. Someone who does not receive recognition for well-done work will start looking for a new place to work. The hope is in finding a new employer who will provide recognition along with the adequate salary.
- Relationships
Social interaction can lead to improved job satisfaction and motivation. The relationships people have with fellow employees can make for a great day or an awful day. This is a factor that many times determines whether or not someone looks forward to the work day or dreads it.
People who bring destructive interpersonal behaviors to a workplace need to have these addressed immediately. If ignored, these people tend to drive good employees to seek work elsewhere.
- Responsibility
Added responsibilities keep us fresh and alert at work. Most people will rise to the occasion when given increased responsibilities. This will often prevent stagnation and propels us to perform at even higher levels.
