Managers know that staff motivation and job satisfaction are different things. The management approach necessary to deliver them has been subjected to a great deal of analysis. Which influences on staff are most significant today? My experience of staff in the English public services (caution: they are a distinct group, things may be different for others) suggests to me that there are six main influences: pay; comparative status; professional achievement; relationship with the line manager; the working environment; and the social environment.

Pay means bonuses, merit awards, access to overtime etc as well as the salary/wage level.

Comparative status means the extent that an employee believes his or her status exceeds that of peers in respect of such factors as job title, job level and the possession of special responsibilities.

Professional achievement means gaining recognition for the possession of distinctive personal knowledge and expertise. It may also include a sense of having helped customers and others.

The working relationship with the line manager means the extent to which the line manager has a positive regard for his/her contribution. It may also mean the extent to which he/she is more successful in this regard than his/her peers.

The working environment means such factors as the availability of flexible working, the quality of the physical workplace, easy travel and an active health and safety approach.

The social environment means the general level of mutual personal regard within the group and the existence of opportunities for social interaction.

These influences have the following characteristics:

• they can act on both motivation and job satisfaction
• their significance varies for different employees
• their relative importance often changes over time
• they can act in both positively (their presence benefits motivation and satisfaction); or negatively (their absence impairs)
• the removal of influences impairing satisfaction may not improve motivation
• the presence of motivating factors does not necessarily improve job satisfaction
• the same influencers can have a positive effect on some employees and a negative effect on others.

Managing the staff means managing the influences! #motivation #jobsatisfaction

Comments welcome