Motivation
Kinicki & Fugate defines motivation as "why we do the things we do" and "describes the psychological processes that underlie the direction, intensity, and persistence of behavior or thought" (Organizational Behavior, 2006, Pg 162). The authors of Organizational Behavior explain that there are two types of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic. Motivation affects the behaviors of employees. Understanding these types of motivations can help managers and supervisors lead their employees well.
Extrinsic Motivation
The easiest definition of motivation for employees is external rewards. Employees receive what are called incentives (i.e. bonuses, performance raises, etc.) and these incentives are defined as extrinsic motivation. Organizations use this type of motivation to encourage a task to be accomplished and most often by a specific time. For example, as a web developer, if I am able to design and build X number of websites within a week, I receive a percentage bonus of the earnings from X clients. I am then motivated to increase X number so that I can receive a higher percentage bonus. My performance determines the amount of bonus I will receive after a week of work, so I am motivated by that potential reward.
The online electronic retail company I previously worked at had a bonus structure that held up well. Employees received a 3%-5% bonus twice a year that relied on their job performance evaluations. On top of that, the salaries were competitive. The issue with a lot of companies where there is a high level of unsatisfied employees is that this is not the only factor of motivation for a lot of people in the modern age.
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation "occurs when an individual is inspired by the positive internal feelings that are generated by doing well, rather than being dependent on external factors (such as incentive pay or compliments from the boss) for the motivation to work effectively” (Organizational Behavior, 2006, Pg 162). Simply dangling a carrot stick in front of workers is no longer enough. The “why” needs to be more than that for workers of today. This “internal” motivation is what keeps us continuing to do what we do when the extrinsic motivation runs out.
The Bible speaks about such motivation in an eternal sense where it says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” (Colossians 3:23 New International Version). It is our very nature to need more than just material motivation to do our best. Simon Senek, an author and motivational speaker, describes our desire to connect to something greater than material rewards. He says in one of his speeches, “If we have a goal that we have to achieve for work, and we miss the goal, do we feel bad that we let the numbers down? No. We feel bad that we let somebody we love, down. We feel bad that we let down our boss, let down our parents, let down our coach…we feel bad that we let down a human being. Accountability is never to a number. Accountability is to a person.” He states accountability to a person as motivation. This is why organizational leaders, supervisors, and managers that lead well, receive the best from their employees. The bonuses and performance raises are appreciated, but the passion and drive come from inspiring leaders. In thebalancecareers.com’s article titled, “What are the most satisfying jobs?”, seven out of the ten reasons that make a job satisfying are intrinsic.
“If there is no relationship with the person who is supposed to look after us or the person we’re supposed to be working for, then we don’t feel accountable. This is where leadership becomes really, really important” (Simon Senek, 2017).
Reference
What are the most satisfying jobs? (Doyle, Alison. 2019). Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-are-the-most-satisfying-jobs-4163539.
Kinicki, A., & Fugate, M. (2016). Organizational behavior: a practical, problem-solving approach. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Simon Sinek: Find Your Why | One of The Best Speeches Ever. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBs6YGPAu4.
Thunder, Lightning, and Rain
Since my wife and I were given the privilege of being the parents to two amazing boys [and one beautiful daughter], I haven't really made time to write about my experiences of being a dad. So, these are one man's thoughts of his two sons [and little girl].
By nature the lightning bolt is seen first followed by the sound of thunder. But in the case of my two boys, it was the opposite. Our first born, Elijah, who is now 2 years and 8 months old--entered this world like a loud and marvelous thunder. I mean he was loud. Literally. 1 year and 9 months later, Remy followed like a quiet lightning bolt. Bright and silent but full of wonder. I mean he was quiet, and sometimes still is. Like, we forget he's around sometimes, he's so quiet (sorry Remy).
Elijah - Thunder
Elijah is like the kid at the playground I looked up to when I was a kid. He is adventurous, bold, kind and strong. All stuffed into a toddler's body. I'll give an example of what he's like. For most of his day he is running on what seems like infinite energy. He's always wanting to wrestle, be a super hero or sometimes just run...with no real destination. Also, we've noticed he has been building his moral compass. When he believes something is wrong, he'll say, "No, that's not nice. Don't do that." And most of the time he's right. Marvelous and bold like thunder. This is Elijah.
Remy - Lightning
Remy is calm and quiet (most of the time; not as much lately). He'll be a one year old on May 26th. He's started to develop a quiet but surprising personality. He'll laugh out of nowhere and he'll look at you with a grin full of teeth or 4, that seems to say a lot for a baby who hasn't even reached a year of his life yet. Those moments come and go so quickly like a lightning bolt. Each one is as amazing as the next. This is Remy.
Emma - Rain
Coming soon.
HomeTown
Since I've moved, I've been experiencing a lot of nostalgia from my growing up in Northern Virginia. I've decided I would share some of my favorite memories to keep them fresh.
My hometown is Springfield, Virginia, a city-suburb of Northern Virginia (NoVA). I grew up in a neighborhood called Island Creek, a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood that sat between two of what my friends and I used to call "rich" neighborhoods. At the main entrance next to the sign is a giant fountain where once a week you'll see the waters filled with bubbles; a prank pulled by the local teenagers. Parents would drive by it in disappointment but everyone knew it was what made Island Creek, well, Island Creek.
Before the neighborhood basketball court was vandalized by gangs during my senior year, the welcoming bubbles of the Island Creek water fountain was the only "vandalism" the neighborhood ever really experienced. My friends and I took care of that basketball court for 7 years. We kept it clean and replaced the nets annually with the money we made cutting grass, shoveling snow and whatever was left after splurging most of what we made on the latest Air Force Ones or Jordan's; it was our way of giving back to the place we loved. It was a great place to grow up to say the least. I'll jot down my memories instead of keeping them floating around.
Thanks Google for making GoogleMaps. Far away doesn't feel so far away.
Fully Qualified
“”The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I’ve seen for myself how cruelly they’re being treated by the Egyptians. It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
”I’ll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”
Then Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What do I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’”
God continued with Moses: “This is what you’re to say to the Israelites: ‘God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.’ This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.
”Now be on your way. Gather the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I’ve looked into what’s being done to you in Egypt, and I’ve determined to get you out of the affliction of Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, a land brimming over with milk and honey.”‘”
My Bit
Moses had a calling even though he didn't feel qualified for the task God had for him. Isn't that how God wants to use us? When we don't see how we are able to accomplish the things He has for us.
Just like the story of Moses we have our stories that God is writing for our lives. God has the same strong calling as He had for Moses in Exodus. When we ask, “”But why me?” God knows we can't do it on our own so His faithful reminder is always, ”I’ll be with you" and when everything He promises to do through us comes to pass we will know that He is God.
The thing Moses had control over was being obedient and saying "yes" to his calling. What we don't realize is the only qualification God looks for is an obedient heart.
God makes us qualified.
Originally posted on January 2011.
The Year of Greater Things
Steven Furtick’s first book, Sun Stand Still, was all about asking God to answer our audacious prayers. Prayers that aligned with the Will of God. In this book he talked about praying the prayers that mirror God’s BIG & AUDACIOUS plan for our life. These last couple of years God has been transforming the way I pray. Praying for BIG things that will glorify not myself but Him because He alone is worthy. After a couple years of praying audacious prayers, God has not only been changing my circumstances but most importantly has been changing how I react to my circumstances. It all started by changing my view of my relationship with God from all about me to all about Him.
My Bit From The Book
I read through the first three chapters probably four times. Not because I'm a slow reader but because there’s so much good stuff to take from it. I’ll share a section in the first chapter that I keep going back to that relates to the change in how I view my relationship with God:
“Good enough = the baseline living marked by mediocrity, being stuck in spiritual survival mode, and being controlled by complacency. Leaves you stuck in stagnation.
Greatness = the vague, unrealistic aspirations of doing better that don’t work in real life. leads to endless frustration.
Greater = the life-altering understanding that God is ready to accomplish a kind of greatness in your life that is entirely out of human reach. Beyond Steve Jobs. Beyond what you see in yourself on your best day. But exactly what God has seen in you all along.”
After the first chapter, I could already see the connection between audacious, God-glorifying prayers leading to a life that’s greater than I could dream of for myself. Why would I want to settle when there’s more that God has for me? And more requires less of me and more of Him. It's definitely not the way the world says we should think. Actually the complete opposite. God has done beyond my definition of greatness in my life so far. He’s given me a purpose, a rock for a wife who loves Jesus, a healthy little boy and a future that’s beyond my wildest imaginations. All to show me how much He loves me and so I can have all the more reason to glorify and honor His Name.
Originally posted on September 2012.
Good Endeavors
“Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”
I’m trying out audiobook reading and I like it. When I’m in my car on my way to work I plug in my iPhone and listen. I’m audiobook reading (I guess that’s what you call it) “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work” By Timothy Keller and it’s great. If you want to get a better understanding of why God’s put you in the work that you’re in you should read this book. Yesterday I was talking to a friend about God’s plan for our lives and how it connects to our own desires and plans. That conversation helped me remember how blessed I am by God’s love, mercy and favor. Afterwards I was getting some errands done around the house, as I usually do on my off day from work, and I was thanking God for how undeservingly wonderful He has been to me; a song that I haven’t heard in awhile popped into my head. It goes like this, "I’m coming back to the heart of worship, where it’s all about you, Jesus."
I have always taken the words of this song in the most common description of worship through singing. This time though, it made me think about how we were created to worship our Creator in everything that we do. Not just at our workplace but in every aspect of our life.
I thought about how I worship God on a daily basis. Have I treated my everyday that way? Have I done everything in obedience and thankfulness? Or, have made it all about me rather than about Him. Have I made the blessing of a job, a family, a purpose that God has given me into something else? I hope not, but if I have "I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made [worship] because it's all about You."
“We receive God’s blessings to acheive His purpose for our lives, so God can receive our worship.”
Originally posted on October 2013.