Motivation Essay

Considering Maslow 's pyramid and the five basic sets of needs (physiological needs , safety needs , belonging needs , esteem needs and self - actualization needs , Joe is currently in on the third level of needs , trying to accede to the fourth and fifth levels . Indeed , as we have seen from his refusal to leave the team , he is already enjoying a sense of belonging : he is very close to his team , to the other workers and is getting along with them , refusing to swap to a different team

On the other hand , as a good and

diligent worker , he is expecting to be advanced to a supervisor position , which would mean that his next category of needs is that of esteem , the esteem of others , in the first phase and , subsequently , self esteem in the higher level . He feels the need to be recognized by others as more than a diligent worker , as a worker that can assume leadership positions in the organization and be recognized as such by the other workers

In terms of self esteem , the need for such a promotion in Joe 's case is explained by the fact that he needs (and wants ) to be seen by himself as more than a simple worker , as somebody who is capable of committing to a higher level of responsibility within the organization and somebody who can face the challenges that may thus arrive

On the other hand , in Maslow 's pyramid , the final level is that of self-actualization , the motivation to grow continuously as an individual and I think Joe is also targeting that final step as well . The fact that he is retained from growing into a supervisor position is equivalent , in his mind , with a denial both of his right to accede to the higher levels of the pyramid and with a non-recognition of his qualities within the work place . Despite the assurances he receives from his boss , all he is offered is a lateral /horizontal move in the organization , which does not address the actual level of needs he is trying to reach to (that type of move would have been appropriate if for example , he did not get on well with the other members of the team he has been working in

One of the cognitive principles of motivation that can surely be applied here is the fact that cognitive views stress that human behavior is influenced by the way people think about themselves and their environment , especially one 's expectations for successfully completing a task . As we have seen , the entire problem of this case is deriving from Joe 's expectations from being a good worker and performing his work diligently . The fact that he is not being promoted to a higher position in the organization , a he would be expecting because of his services , is making him give up his basic work principles

In my opinion , operant conditioning principles will only refer and act upon Joe 's current problem (being late and less diligent...