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Organizational Behaviour - Is Money a Good Motivator?

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Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word motivation as, “a force that creates stimulus, influence, incentive or drive; to provide with a motive.” In layman’s terms, this basically means something or someone who gives you a reason to work your ass off. Motivation is important, powerful, and we all need it in our lives.

For a long time, it was commonly thought that money was the most powerful motivator. People went to work and did a good job in order to be paid a fair wage. If they worked hard and long enough, that wage would increase, giving them additional motivation. It was a full circle concept where Money = Motivation, Motivation = Work and Work = Money.

While this concept seems solid, the truth of the matter is that many people don’t necessarily consider money to be the top motivator at all. Obviously, money is a major factor in their choice to work, but beyond that, other incentives are often more important when it comes to stimulating their work ethics and increasing their job productivity. So, what motivates more than money?

#1. Time

Even in today’s age of time-saving technologies, many people are acutely aware of how their time is being spent. From Hollywood movies and songs to sappy cards and print media, people are constantly being reminded by society at large to make wise use of their time. Because life quickly passes us by, with or without money, many people agree that being rewarded with or given time away from their jobs to do what they love is a major motivation.

#2. Happiness

Happiness as a motivator may sound cliché, but you can’t argue with truth. People want to be genuinely happy in their lives and often, this means making a choice between doing something they love and making a few more bucks a week. If employers truly want the very best performance out of a person, their best bet is to hire people who are happy with their

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