Motivation and emotion

Motivation and emotion are two interrelated psychological forces that drive human behaviour. Motivation is the psychological force that drives individuals to action and is based on needs, wants, and desires. It is the "why" behind a person’s behaviour. Emotion is the feeling that motivates behaviour, and is derived from a person’s interpretation of events and their environment. It is the "how" behind a person’s behaviour. Together, motivation and emotion provide the foundation for management to better understand and influence employees’ behaviour.

Example of motivation and emotion

• Susan has been working for the same company for many years and is feeling unmotivated. She is feeling unappreciated and is struggling to find the motivation to continue working. Her emotions are of frustration and sadness. To motivate her, her manager could provide more recognition for her hard work and provide more opportunities for growth and development.
• John is a sales representative who is feeling highly motivated to close deals and make money. His emotions are of excitement and enthusiasm. His manager can capitalize on this motivation by providing incentives to help him reach his goals, such as increased commissions or bonuses.
• Mary is a new employee who is feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Her emotions are of fear and uncertainty. Her manager can help her by providing her with clear direction and expectations, as well as access to the resources and support she needs to succeed.

When to use motivation and emotion

Motivation and emotion are powerful psychological forces that can be used to drive behaviour in the workplace. In order to utilize these forces effectively, it is important to understand when to use them. The following are some of the potential applications of motivation and emotion in the workplace:

• Establishing trust: Establishing trust in the workplace can be facilitated through the use of motivation and emotion. By creating an environment where employees feel safe to express themselves and their feelings, managers can foster loyalty and trust.
• Enhancing performance: Motivation and emotion can be used to enhance employee performance. Positive emotions can be used to increase motivation, while negative emotions can be used to help employees to identify areas of improvement.
• Dealing with change: Change can be a difficult and stressful experience for employees. Motivation and emotion can be used to help employees to adapt to change by providing support and reducing stress.
• Improving communication: Communication can be improved through the use of motivation and emotion. By creating an environment where employees feel comfortable to express their thoughts and feelings, managers can promote open communication.
• Building relationships: Relationships in the workplace can be strengthened through the use of motivation and emotion. By creating an environment where employees feel valued and appreciated, managers can foster strong relationships between employees and the organization.

Types of motivation and emotion

Motivation and emotion are two interrelated psychological forces that drive human behaviour. Motivation is the psychological force that drives individuals to action and is based on needs, wants, and desires. Emotion is the feeling that motivates behaviour, and is derived from a person’s interpretation of events and their environment. Examples of motivation and emotion include:

• Intrinsic Motivation: Intrinsic motivation is the internal drive to do something for its own sake. It is driven by an individual’s personal interests, satisfaction, and rewards.
• Extrinsic Motivation: Extrinsic motivation is the external reward or incentive that drives behaviour. This type of motivation is often driven by external factors such as money, recognition, or rewards.
• Positive Emotion: Positive emotion is the feeling of pleasure, joy, and excitement. This type of emotion is often associated with a positive outlook on life and can influence behaviour in a positive way.
• Negative Emotion: Negative emotion is the feeling of fear, anger, and sadness. This type of emotion can have a detrimental effect on behaviour and can lead to poor decision making.
• Motivation-Reinforcement Cycle: The motivation-reinforcement cycle is the process by which a person’s behaviour is reinforced and motivates further action. This cycle involves the reinforcement of a behaviour, which then leads to further motivation to continue the behaviour.

Advantages of motivation and emotion

Motivation and emotion are powerful forces that can have a positive impact on an individual’s behaviour. The following are some of the advantages of motivation and emotion:

• Motivation helps to increase productivity and performance. By providing incentives and rewards, individuals will be more likely to take action and finish a task. Additionally, employees who are motivated are more likely to be engaged and committed to their job.
• Emotions can help to create a positive work environment. When emotions are expressed and managed effectively, it can lead to improved communication and collaboration, as well as increased trust and loyalty among employees.
• Motivation and emotion can help to foster creativity. By providing a positive environment with the freedom to express ideas, individuals are more likely to come up with creative solutions to problems.
• Motivation and emotion can help to reduce stress. When employees feel motivated, they are less likely to become overwhelmed and are more likely to stay on track. Additionally, managing emotions in a healthy way can help to reduce stress levels and improve overall wellbeing.

Limitations of motivation and emotion

Motivation and emotion can be powerful forces that drive human behaviour, but they also have their limitations. These include:

• The tendency to be short-term: Motivation and emotion can be powerful in the short-term, but they often fail to sustain over the long-term.
• The potential to be easily manipulated: People’s behaviour can often be easily manipulated by external factors, such as money, rewards, and incentives.
• The risk of burnout: The constant pursuit of motivation and emotion can lead to burnout and fatigue if individuals do not take breaks and rest.
• The potential to undermine performance: When motivation and emotion become too intense or too difficult to manage, they can lead to a decrease in performance.
• The difficulty in predicting behaviour: Motivation and emotion are often unpredictable, making it difficult to predict how individuals will react in a given situation.

Motivation and emotion — recommended articles

Organisational commitment — Emotion and motivation — Non financial motivation — Affective response — Relationships at work — Motivation system — Recognition and reward — Sense of identity — Motivation at work

References

• Buck, R. (1985). Prime theory: An integrated view of motivation and emotion. Psychological review, 92(3), 389.
• Reeve, J. (2018). Understanding motivation and emotion. John Wiley & Sons.