Jobs, for most people, are a miserable passage of long hours, and more than half of the people who work are dissatisfied and disappointed in their workplaces. The employees’ mental health must be considered as one of the top priorities at workplace. Earning money to live a good life is not supposed to be torture, especially when one has to kill more than five hours each day. Reduced motivation and no sense of fulfillment can make people worrisome and annoyed and have detrimental effects on employees’ mental health as well.
A motivating workplace provides an energetic force that helps improve the employees’ mental health and puts their best foot forward. Some people are motivated by the opportunity to help the general public through their work, and others are motivated to succeed in their chosen field. However, many find fulfillment in using their earnings to keep their families happy and healthy. This article will help you understand how motivation can be reinforced to keep the employees happy and working.
What is Motivation?
Motivation is defined as the combination of internal and external factors that promote desire and energy in people. Your motivation is what drives you to get out of bed each day, complete tasks, and achieve your objectives. Workplace motivation is what helps you move forward in your career.
Motivation is a force that initiates and maintains a goal-oriented behavior. It helps one achieve their goals systematically without causing harmful delays and feelings. In simple words, motivation is why a person performs a task or does anything. Motivation can convert good thoughts into actions and results. However, it is hard to keep yourself motivated if the right factors are not available in the environment around you. There are two primary motivations:
Motivation from Within- Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation comes from within and is not instilled from the outside. Such motivation makes your heart happy and content. Many hobbies, such as painting, reading, gardening, swimming, etc., are brought about by intrinsic motivation. When you complete a task because you are intrinsically motivated, you are likely to feel personally satisfied. You may not have achieved any specific objectives or achieved any measurable outcomes, but you believe the effort required to complete the task was worthwhile.
Intrinsic motivation is beneficial in the workplace because if you are intrinsically motivated, you are unlikely to require the help of others to motivate or inspire you. You can find all the motivation you need within yourself. If you have a job that you like or a work of your own- that is good enough! It will give you the fulfillment you need and keep away the extra stress.
Motivation from the Outside- Extrinsic Motivation
We are well aware of the behavior enforcing techniques such as reward and punishment. These extrinsic motivation sources make one fear punishment and look forward to rewarding. Similarly, in workplaces, the reward is the salary and bonuses, while termination punishment keeps the employees on their toes. It helps them to work hard and accomplish their daily goals.
Extrinsically motivated tasks typically do not provide rewards that meet your personal needs. To achieve an extrinsic goal, you will almost certainly have to give up some of your own time, security, or energy. Money, recognition, or other forms of compensation are common extrinsic rewards, and money loss, discipline, or missed opportunities are examples of extrinsic consequences. In the workplace, many employees are extrinsically motivated by their paychecks and opportunities for advancement.
Motivation at Workplace
Employee motivation refers to a company’s employees’ level of commitment, energy, and creativity during the workday. Maintaining and improving employee motivation can be a challenge for businesses because not every task will pique the interest of those who must complete it. As a result, companies must work to find ways to keep their employees motivated.
If you imagine a low-motivated employee, they will work at a slower pace, spend more time away from their tasks, and possibly occupy themselves by surfing the internet or using their phones. Most importantly, they’re primarily unfocused and aren’t giving it their all at work. Learning what employees want will assist you in formulating the next step in increasing workplace motivation.
Employees know what is expected of them in a motivating work environment because they are given clear direction. Employees should have goals that fit within the company’s strategic framework, which should have a clear path. When offered and appropriately implemented, employee recognition can boost motivation, and it is one of the most important aspects of effective employee motivation.
According to Herzberg’s theory, there are two factors that an organization can adjust to increase the employees’ motivation. These are motivators and hygiene. Motivators are those factors found in the job, while hygiene includes the factors surrounding the job. These factors lead to the roots of employees’ motivation.
Motivators
Motivators make the job fun and exciting. They include:
- employee recognition
- achievement
- nature of work
- responsibility
- advancement opportunities
- growth
Hygiene
Increased hygiene makes the job comfortable. They include:
- company policies
- type of supervision
- relationships
- work conditions
- salary bracket
- remuneration
- security
High motivators and hygiene make the job thrilling and fulfilling, whereas low motivators and hygiene make the job miserable. Maintaining a balance between them is essential to increase employees’ motivation and, consequently, their performance.
Ending Notes
Earning a comfortable livelihood is not an easy task, and it requires a huge amount of motivation and energy to bring food to the table. Most of the time, the toxicity at workplaces is overlooked to earn bread that leads to mental stress. Continuous pressure and stress can lead to many mental health issues such as anxiety, anger, and even depression. It is not okay to overburden yourself and overlook your needs in exchange for money. What is the point of searching for comfort while sacrificing it at the same time? It is not taboo anymore to visit a qualified mental health counselor. If you have any symptoms of burnout or declining mental health, feel free to contact a psychologist to find your way out of the dark.
FAQs
1. Are employers supposed to help employees with mental health issues?
The most common mental health issues are anxiety and depression. Whether work is causing or exacerbating a health problem, employers have a legal obligation to assist their employees. Workplace mental health issues must be assessed in order to determine the level of risk to employees.
2. Why is employees’ mental health important?
Employers and businesses are directly impacted by mental health issues due to increased absenteeism, a negative impact on productivity and profits, and an increase in costs associated with dealing with such issues.
3. Is it compulsory to tell the employer if you have a mental illness?
Employees cannot be forced to reveal a mental illness unless they request a job accommodation. The employer can then request medical documentation regarding the illness. This medical information is not to be shared with coworkers.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with the top psychologist in Lahore in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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