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Steve
07-02-2001, 07:51 PM
What motivates you..?

I am currently doing a OU course on managing, and have to compile some data that shows why people are motivated to:

(a) Stay in the job they currently hold.
(b) Go to work in the morning.

What makes you feel good in your current role, you can also say what demotivates you if you want.

Rob Brookes
07-02-2001, 09:08 PM
Everybody is motivated in different ways, some money, some a easy life and others like to be appreciated for the work that they do!
If the company does not recognise this then the engineers will not care about the job they do or the people they work with.
Which in turn demotivates the engineers and reduces the quality of work.
( why should I bother if nobody else does??)

[Edited by WebMaster on 07-02-2001 at 08:54 PM]

Steve
08-02-2001, 07:36 PM
Rob, you would appear to have missed the point slightly.

What I am intrested in is what motivates you personnaly...?

You mention appreciation, this can be a major motivator for some people, when was the last time your manager told you that you where doing a good job....?

What about
Achievement
Responsibility
Personnel development (who has a personnel development plan)
Is the balance between work and reward a fair one

Some people are motivated by the content of the job they do themseves, and material reward is secondry.

Mr Fridgetec would appear to be highly motivated by the content of his work, possibly the sense of achievment felt is more important than the material reward.

Thoughts or comments please

WebRam
09-02-2001, 10:04 PM
Motivators are a big thing in LIFE, never mind refrigeration.

My motovators are (in no particular order)

Achievement, I always felt good/satisfied when I fixed a problem that other engineers bounced of. In fact, if I had smoked, I would have lit one up and savoured the moment.

Personnel developement, this always looms large in my life. I feel that I will never be one of those lucky sods that win the jackpot on the lottery. Personnel developement, to me, makes life worth living.

AND MONEY, has to play a big part in EVERYONES life or they are just big fibbers ;) I have always looked to tie in money to my growth as a person in the physical sense only.

subzero*psia
10-02-2001, 12:03 AM
#1 is the satisfaction of a job well done. If I can't do my job as well as I would like then I will leave... kinda heading there now.

#2 is the know how, and taking pride in having it.

#3 is definitely money. If it isn't there I won't be either.



What DE-Motivates me:

A "superior" that has no clue and makes me second guess my judgement.

Having to account for every minute of my time, the results should be good enough.

Tying my hands and then holding me responsible for a fix.

Steve
10-02-2001, 12:29 AM
Hmmmm intresting,

Out of the many theory's as to peoples motivation to work the one I prefer is:

"The Psychological"

This concerns the fit between the expectations of the employee and the employer. They could be transactional such as pay and benefits or relational such as trust and commitment.

Over a period of time an agreement emerges between the two parties based on perceived promises and implied commitments. The more they both share the same view the less chance of conflict.

Problems emerge when employees are given unrealistic expectations.

How many times have we agreed informally or sometimes formally with our boss on future rewards only to find false promises.

While you perceive to be getting a fair shake of the whip you remain motivated, as soon as you perceive the exchange to be unfair...demotivation happens..

That is the very much abridged version

Comments

WebRam
10-02-2001, 01:12 AM
Originally posted by subzero*psia

Having to account for every minute of my time, the results should be good enough.

That used to get on my goat subzero*psia, it really did. These people are control freeks who try to justify their existance by clock watching and as far as I am conserned, they can go stew themselves.

I have a habit of working long hours on the web so I tend to have a lay in, some mornings to try and catch up.
Most of my co-workers know this but still insist on phoning me at 8am to chat (not you Steve), then moan if they get my answering service.
I have to say, that my boss is good and lets me get on with it.

slloyd
15-03-2001, 10:37 PM
BE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO , BE THE BEST AT WHAT YOU DO , STAY TOP OF CLASS, AND DONT TAKE S###, FROM PEOPLE WITH THERE HEAD IN BOOKS. THERES A WELL KNOWN SAYING STEVE, "THOSE WHO CAN DO, THOSE WHO CANT TEACH!

Steve
16-03-2001, 10:05 AM
An intresting point Simon, however some may say that the best teachers are those that have practically experianced that, that they teach.

I think that most would also agree the best way to learn is to read about the subject that intrests you, then back that knowledge up with practical experiance (as the section concerning refrigeration books covers)

If you limit yourself to only learing from experiance how can you expand your horizons.

Rob Brookes
16-03-2001, 09:36 PM
'LEARING' Steve, is that required 'LEARNING' for all engineers????

WebRam
16-03-2001, 09:42 PM
I really do nead to get that spellchecker up and running, for Steve's sake at the very least :):):)

Steve
17-03-2001, 11:46 AM
You better believe it bob............

Robert Rumpff
07-08-2001, 03:14 PM
I hope this helps you in your data gathering
a. I stay in my job because it feels safe I know where I'm going each day and I know the hazards involved. Change involves risk on some level.
b. My personal motivation involves my weekends and my custom 1997 Harley Davidson.

Steve
07-08-2001, 03:29 PM
Both good points, I like the second one best

Gary
07-08-2001, 07:25 PM
My father used to say that I would rather be right than be president. He considered this to be my primary shortcoming. I disagreed. I was right, of course...lol

Give me training, the jobs that others can't figure out, an occasional attaboy, and stuff money (sincere attaboys) in my pockets. I will be annoyingly happy. :)

dwallan
07-08-2001, 08:08 PM
To arrive at a new site and work on equipment that I initially have no idea were to begin motivates me.

Or to finally see a system that you have designed being loaded with product is a good enough reason to get out of the house.

I think we all get a sense of personal achievment as long as we are being challenged

At the moment we have a couple of engineers who joined us from a smaller company. From a management point of view you know you are doing something right when you see them pushing themselves onto larger, more involved equipment. It is probably just enough satisfaction to keep me in a management role.

Abe
07-08-2001, 10:45 PM
Motivation, hmmm.......this is just a cuff of a reply to start with, before I can really munch into the heavy stuff Steve, but here goes......youre "motivated" when you "want to do " something because you feel a sense of achievement, recognition, fullfillment, encouragement, etc AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD AND HAPPY. Under these conditions you fly, you excell and you produce good quality everything.

Now , if I might refer to the fridge game, are engineers raring to go in the morning......have a full and satisfying day, if "yes" then there motivated, the CONDITIONS need to be right, ie: good boss, good pay, good conditions, etc.

For some yes.....there happy with "their lot" and are happy, others feel they are worth more and could do better..........there demotivated. Lets get the scenario right here, it differs from person to person and depends a lot on their personality, that "test" which Marc commented on is a good test to analyse different people

Anyway.........More later