Employee motivation is simply a technique that a business and/or corporation implements in order to give the individuals working in the capacity of that company an incentive to push forward, and give all they have to their work. In order to motivate employees to do what it is that they need to do, and make that additional step to exceed expectations, many employers offer incentives. One of the most popular and effective types of incentives that you can provide to your employees are travel incentives. This type of motivation has been used in a number of businesses - some of which are Fortune 500 companies - successfully for many years now!
The Hierarchy of Maslow
Maslow is noted for his extensive work and studies in the field of psychology. During the peak of his career, he determined that all people, regardless of sex, gender, age, and/or culture have at least five basic needs. He developed a hierarchy system that identifies each of the needs. While each of these five components can apply to many different aspects of a person's life, Maslow insisted that the flow of needs should be addressed in a "bottom up" fashion. This means the very bottom need must be met before one can move up. If you manage employees, it is essential that you understand the hierarchy and know where to start. The following details the five needs, starting with the bottom, and some examples of each:
1. Physiological - This covers things that are part of who we are physically. Examples of the needs in this section include food, sleep, and even homeostasis.
2. Safety - This means security in the job, at home, and everywhere else.
3. The Need to Be Loved and/or Needed - This includes relationships with coworkers, bosses, family members, etc....
4. Basic Esteem - This covers respecting others, being respected, the sense of accomplishment, and confidence.
5. Self Actualization - This is the need where we can solve problems such as those that occur in the workplace, and where we accept certain facts as truth in our lives.
Employee Motivation and Incentives
Now, as more and more companies succeed in implementing the use of incentives to encourage and motivate, many of these businesses are wondering when they should and when they should not provide incentives such as travel packages. I use a simple method in order to determine which employees qualify for incentives, and which employees do not qualify. I never reward incentives like travel packages for those that those people within the company that are doing what is expected of them. Sounds a little harsh, right?
Employees should not receive incentives that are performing within their job duties. When they agreed to the job, they accepted their responsibilities as a bare minimum. They committed to do this and that. While you can encourage them if they are struggling, or even brag a little when they hit metrics, you should never provide incentives for this type of performance. If you do, they will continue to expect the rewards. When they do not see any, resentment and hostility will develop - the attrition rate may even be high.
If you see an employee that is exceeding expectations, this is the employee that deserves an incentive - especially travel incentives. This means that this employee is having a positive impact on the business, and if they are rewarded for it, they will continue to strive to only get better in their work. You know what this means, right? It means that your business will become more successful overall!
Why Travel Incentives?
I know I keep harping on travel incentives as a tactic for employee motivation, but I am going to explain to you why I think this type of incentive is a productive means of achieving the success that you want to see your business accomplish. The following outlines some of the reasons that I believe this type of reward is effective:
1. Everyone loves to go on a vacation - especially if it somewhere unique and away from home!
2. Individuals who receive these types of incentives often feel as if they are highly valued in the company that they work for, as many are luxury vacations that include first class rooms and accommodations. By providing your employees with first class service all the way, you are also going to receive first class service from that employee over and over again!
3. If you purchase travel incentives for your employees, you actually save a lot of money because of the fact that these, purchased in bulk, cost very little on the dollar. While allowing your employees to travel all over the world, you are saving the company some major money!
Conclusion
Employee motivation and incentives are two topics that should be priority in each and every single business around the world. There are some instances in which incentives should not be issued, but in other cases, employees should receive these rewards. The basis for this would be if an employee proves to be exceptional and exceeds expectations as set forth by their job descriptions.
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