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Modern psychology attempts to explain human behavior and its underlying motivations. Understanding human behavior is critical in order to effectively control or influence human behavior in a desired manner. An advanced understanding of modern psychology can help individuals improve their personal lives, as well as advance their careers.
Within this field, Abraham Maslow was an important pioneer. In 1943, this American psychologist released a groundbreaking article formulating a needs-based framework of human motivation based upon his clinical experiences with other people. Until then, psychology has been based largely upon theoretical ideas or animal behavior.
He was also revolutionary by focusing on what constituted positive mental health, instead of what was abnormal or deviant, thereby making his theory more applicable and relevant to the general human population. This theory is why Maslow is now considered the father of humanistic psychology and also of modern management.
In his theory, Maslow defined human motivation in terms of a stepped pyramid or hierarchical ladder. He created a hierarchy of human needs that is a useful reference even in today's society. In ascending order from bottom to top, he listed physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. He believed that people had to start at the bottom and reach a more advanced step only after successfully completing each of the preceding steps.
For business managers today, Maslow's theory still has business implications for managing and motivating employees. Without food, water, shelter, sleep, or the means to obtain them, people can remain at this stage of motivational development. Hunger, thirst, exposure to inclement weather, and physical exhaustion exclude thoughts about anything other than present human survival. For managers, that means that salespeople will need lunch breaks, rest breaks, and enough income to purchase those basic requirements of life.
Once basic physiological requirements are met, employees can worry about imminent and future safety and security. They need to feel safe in their work environment. They cannot reach maximum effectiveness or efficiency when they feel they need to constantly check their back and scan their surroundings for fear of potential threats. Physical threats and relative comfort about job security can be alleviated by security guards, cameras, and responsive management personnel.
The next step is made up of social needs. People want to feel like an accepted member of a community. Teambuilding events can help workers feel like they belong, as members of a team. A pleasant work environment with team goals and team celebrations of group accomplishments would promote that aim.
The fourth step is made up of esteem needs. Staffers need to feel appreciated and highly valued as individuals. They want to feel like they are doing vital and important work for their employer. Human social status is often defined by people's jobs and the recognition that they receive from performing their job. Business managers can help fulfill that need of their staff by giving out awards and other recognition for outstanding individual accomplishments.
The fifth and topmost step is self-actualization, where people become all that they can be. With self-awareness, they can form long-range goals and contemplate abstract ideas and intangible personal satisfaction. They can determine where they would like to seek personal and career growth, and act to make it so. Business managers can address this need by offering mentorship, higher education incentives, and opportunities for job progression and advancement.
Daiv Russell is a marketing and management consultant with Envision Web Promotion. Read more Articles about Management, learn about Abraham H. Maslow and Maslow's hierarchy. |
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