Introduction In todays marketplace, where companies seek a competitive edge, motivation is key for talent retention and performance.

No matter the economic environment, the goal is to create a workplace that is engaging and motivating, where employees want to stay, grow and contribute their knowledge, experience and expertise. Motivation is generally defined as the psychological forces that determine the direction of a persons level of effort, as well as a persons persistence in the face of obstacles. The direction of a persons behavior refers to the many possible actions that a person could engage in, while persistence refers to whether, when faced with roadblocks and obstacles, an individual keeps trying or gives up. What Influences Motivation? Motivating employees for better performance encompasses these critical factors: employee engagement, Organizational vision and values, management acknowledgment and appreciation of work well done, and overall authenticity of leadership. Chana Anderson, CCP, SPHR-CA, director of HR and a member of the SHRM Employee Relations Special Expertise Panel, says that motivation is influenced equally by the employee and the company: Motivation and engagement is truly a 50-50 relationship between the employee and employer. Employees are expected to come to the workplace with the intrinsic motivation and desire to be successful, be value-added and contribute to the obtainment of an employers vision. Conversely, it is incumbent upon the employer to provide resources, opportunities, recognition and a cohesive work environment for employees to be successful. Employee Engagement Engagement influences motivation. It is reflected in the extent to which employees commit, how hard they work and how long they stay. People join organizations for different reasons, motivated by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are reflected in actions believed to be important. Examples include an employee who wants to help people by providing excellent customer service or a senior manager who gains a sense of accomplishment from overseeing a large corporation. Intrinsic outcomes include responsibility, autonomy, feelings of accomplishment and the pleasure of doing interesting work. Extrinsicmotivated behavior includes actions performed with the goal to have material or social rewards, with outcomes such as job security, benefits, vacation time and public recognition. It is the responsibility of managers to motivate employees, with the goal for employees to contribute to the organization. Managers can best motivate employees by offering rewards that are meaningful to them. Vision and Values Employees are often motivated differently. To develop a work environment that promotes motivation, organizations need to know what is important to their employees and then to emphasize these factors. In fact, some companies and researchers are beginning to look at work spiritualitynot in a religious sense, but in a sense that what an employee does aligns with his or her greater sense of life and purpose. Aside from monetary gain, work provides people with fulfillment on various levels, from earning a living and doing good work to aspiring to a vision and ultimately having an impact on the quality of life. These reasons can change over time in response to changes in peoples home life and responsibilities. Further, in response to drastic economic changes and natural disasters, companies can change over time as well. Management Acknowledgment and Appreciation How employees are treated is a strong determinant of employee motivation and performance. Edward E. Lawler III, author and consultant for human resource management, emphasizes that treating people right is fundamental to creating organizational effectiveness and success. It is also easier said than done. According to Lawler, this includes a highly complex set of actions on the part of both organizations and employees. Organizations must develop ways to treat their employees so that they are motivated and satisfied; employees must behave in ways to help their organizations become effective and high-performing. This winning combination for performance requires a partnership between the organization and the employees. Lawler states: One cant succeed without the other. To provide people with meaningful work and rewards, organizations need to be successful. And to be successful, organizations need high-performing individuals. The challenge is to design organizations that perform at high levels and treat people in ways that are rewarding and satisfying. To describe this mutually beneficial relationship, Lawler uses the term virtuous spiral, a relationship that occurs when the organization values its employees, and in return, workers are committed to high performance. Leadership and Making a Difference In todays pressure-cooker environment, performance is carefully noted at all levels of the organization. No matter an individuals title, everyone has the opportunity to lead in some capacity and have a positive impact on performance. Understanding the value that can be achieved through different roles is one way of providing motivation, performance and thus leadership skills. A recent article published on Knowledge@Wharton, titled Putting a Face to a Name: The Art of Motivating Employees, emphasizes that workers have better results when they can identify with those they serve. Specifically, face-to-face interactions and task significance (what I do makes a difference) are key drivers for motivation and performance. Research by Adam Grant, Ph.D., a Wharton management professor, indicates that making human connections is critical for motivation, leadership and high job performance. He found that face-to-face interactionsno matter how superficialcan lead to significant improvements in performance, and that motivation and performance increase simply by an employees awareness of the impact of his or her job on others. Dr. Grant has observed this result through studies of all types of jobs and roles in the workplace, from customer service representatives, managers, nurses, doctors and medical technicians to security guards, engineers, salespeople, police officers and fire fightersbased on when people can directly see the impact of their efforts.5