Motivating Employees through Needs Fulfillment

Abraham Maslow devised a Hierarchy of needs and came up with five different levels namely: Physiological, Safety, Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self Actualization. And he according to him, all of the lower levels must be attained in order to experience the higher levels. By formulating these different categories he was able to relate it with human's basic concerns and desires. But his primary focus was on the most intellectual people at his time to base his research.

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.

The second level is safety. People must feel secure. This means that they must have job and financial security. An employer must establish this security in his employees. If an employee believes that he is potentially going to be laid off or fired, then he may not work as hard as he could. He may decide to give up or even do something to negatively impact the company as revenge.

Feeling like a person belongs and is loved and desired is the third level. Employers can assist employees in making friends with each other. This will help to create a pleasant environment to work in. The employer can encourage these relationships by organizing small group tasks and organizing events.

The fourth level is all about a person's self esteem or self worth. All of us desire to belong; the sense of belongingness is very important for every individual. By being a member of a group, there is a capacity for us to experience feeling of accomplishments and faith in ones capabilities. Planning for a company recreation and events like sports fest can help bridge the gap and thus create a sense of camaraderie between employees. In addition to this it will give them a chance to unwind and at the same time boost their confidence level.

Finally, the last level, according to Maslow, is self actualization. This is our ability to be creative and problem solve. It also deals with our feelings of morality. We can achieve these feelings once we have reached all of the other previous levels that were already discussed. Only then, can we reach self actualization and become completely mature.

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

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