Last night, I was training a highly intelligent group of software engineers. The subject was Motivation and Team Building; a subject that I find both interesting and informative to teach.

We started by discussing definitions for the word ‘motivation’ and the usual synonyms of drive, enthusiasm, and incentive came up.

We followed this by discussing the differences between Team Building and Relationship Building activities and I explained why KTV or department meals cannot be described as Team building exercises.

Next we discussed extrinsic and intrinsic motivators and exactly what motivated this group of talented individuals to get out of bed each morning. Their answers all revolved around money; an increase in salary and the end of year bonus were the most popular answers by far. Even when I elicited an answer that didn’t initially sound money-related; for example; promotion, by the time we had investigated the meaning of this further, it came back down to money.

I attempted to introduce the idea that money is only a short-term motivator and is far from being an ideal long-term incentive. I then introduced the idea that being recognised for your achievements and praised for your accomplishments can actually be a greater motivator in the long term.

No, this group of individuals very much disagreed. They don’t need to hear that they are doing a great job; they know that they are doing a great job.

This made me think about what it is that truly motivates me and how this fits with my personality type, and therefore, what motivates my team and how this fits with their personality types.

I’m the sort of person who only knows I’m doing a good job when someone else tells me that I am. If I don’t hear this recognition, I am prone to believing that I am not doing a good job. Therefore, praise for my accomplishments is the greatest way to motivate me.

However, others do not welcome praise and would prefer to quietly get on with their jobs with little spoken recognition.

I want to know what it is that motivates everyone else in the HR Network community, and how these motivators match your personality type.

I personally don’t agree with the group that you have trained last night and tried to figure out the reason why all the answers are money-related. Here is one explanation which may help to understand. China is still working on the social security and medical system. People worry about not making enough money to have a better life and cannot afford the hospital when they are sick. Money does solve these problems. It not only brings the sense of security but also earns the respect from others.

Who said money is not a motivator?!?

You make your conclusions too quickly and from a western perspective using western concepts and theories. Money CAN be a motivator.

Money can be a motivator. It can also not. It ultimately depends on the individuals' NEEDS. For example, when I was working as a Territory Manager in Australia, I had a company car, great salary, and a lot of flexibility. But I was becoming bored, because there was little variation to my day. I started to day-dream during the day, creating new inventions in my head, and ultimately becoming dissatisfied with my job because I lacked the freedom (my NEED) to do these.

I then quit my job and moved to China. I have not been happier. I also took a considerable pay cut, for the first years of my career in China, as I built my business.

So for me, MONEY was definitely not a motivator for me to stay. And everyone is different.

So how do you find out from your staff what their NEEDS are? You funnel. Funnelling is a technique that means that you use Open Questions, avoid assumptions, and dig deep to find the true NEEDS.

certainly money motivates but for a very short period of time. Without a doubt if you get a raise your workrate will increase in the short term and you will be more positive in the immediate aftermarth. However, this motivation will turn to comlacency very quickly as the individuals workrate returns to normal levels within just a few weeks.

I think westerners are kidding themselves if they think money is not a major motivator for them. A challenging or interesting job is nice, so is praise, but when people compare themselves with their friends or family income (and benefits) is a major factor.