Money or Communication - Which Motivates You More?

Money is obviously an important motivating factor when it comes to our careers and our professional lives; most Americans consistently strive for a bigger paycheck to purchase big ticket items or keep their families in a comfortable life style (some times it's even to just put food on the table).

With this in mind it would seem that money would be the most important motivating factor in the work place? This however is a common misconception. According to a survey measuring employee loyalty and retention, conducted by Vantage Research, "'open communication between management and employees' was mentioned nearly twice as frequently as 'receiving raises'...[and]...Clearly, a work environment where employees are recognized as part of the team is more valuable than simply receiving a paycheck."

Though this may seem strange at first, the survey findings begin to make more sense when you think about your own situations at work where communication fell flat. Think back to a situation in which your voice was either lost in the crowd, completely ignored, or unceremoniously rejected as nonsense. I have witnessed several people simply walk off of a job simply because a manager was not willing or felt it was not necessary to listen what they had to say. Being ignored is a demoralizing feeling that can not only stifle creativity and motivation, but make one hesitant to put forth their ideas and push themselves to help the organization succeed.

It is important for managers and executives to understand that in order to help their employees succeed along with the organization they can not offer money or benefits as the sole motivator; people need to feel as if they have a stake in the company and can share in the overall success of the organization. By having a healthy communication rapport among managers and employees, organizations can ensure everyone is working toward a common goal and that the best ideas for success are flowing from multiple channels. So give the people what they need and what they want - before you break open the check book, grab a cup of coffee and have a discussion.

Labels: Aspen Organization Development, communication skills, employee motivation, organizational development, performance management