Maslow Hierarchy of Needs & Career Motivations

Lesson 16
Learning Outcomes:
• By the end of the lesson you will:
• Understand Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how they
relate to the workplace
• Know about career motivations
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in
psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his
1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation"
• His theories parallel many other theories of
human developmental psychology, some of
which focus on describing the stages of growth
in humans.
• Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic
level of needs must be met before the individual
will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon)
the secondary or higher level needs
Activity: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Put Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in the correct
order, i.e. what level do you need to satisfy
before you can move on to the next one?
Activity: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Safety nee e d s
ds Phys io lo g ica l ne

Belongingness and love needs

ac t u al izati on
Self-

Esteem needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Video: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Hierarchy of Needs in R
atatouille
Physiological needs
• Essentially, physiological needs are easily defined
• They are the elements required to ensure survival
• If the requirements of people are not met, there is
then the inability to function
• Such requirements include what?
• Breathing
• Eating
• Sleeping
Physiological needs
• What physiological needs can you think of in the
workplace?
• Restaurants, cafés
• Working temperature
Safety needs
• Safety-related requirements take
priority over physical needs
• People tend to seek stability and order
• People generally dislike anything that
may be unpredictable or unsafe
Safety needs
• What safety needs can you think of in the workplace?
• Safety needs can be seen in a variety of protective
aspects:
• Health and safety policies
• Insurance policies
• Security
Belonging
• The third stage of human development is that of love
and belonging
• People require social integration and feeling of being
needed and appreciated within the organisation
• Belonging therefore constitutes relationships centred
on emotions
Belonging
• What belonging needs can you think of in the
workplace?
• Workers want to feel needed and appreciated within
the organisation, within..
• Work teams, departments
• Social clubs or sports facilities
Esteem
• What does ‘esteem’ mean?
• Respect and admiration
• Esteem witnesses an individual seeking respect
• Thereby acquires confidence through the acceptance
of other people
Esteem
• Individuals seek to achieve acknowledgement and
appreciation. Why?
• In order to feel recoginised, accepted and valued
Esteem
• What esteem needs can you think of in the workplace?
• Being valued and appreciated by managers
• Being valued and appreciated by colleagues
• Receiving acknowledgement and appreciation
Esteem
• How would a void in this area leave a person feeling?
• Inferior and unwanted, and subsequently..
• Lack of self-esteem
Esteem
• Such individuals may feel need to be in limelight and
adored by masses of people
• But may not result in higher levels of self-esteem and
confidence
• This stage may also not happen if other psychological
issues, e.g. depression
Esteem
• As a manager how can you motivate this group?
• Achievement
• Training
• Development opportunities
Self-actualisation
• If you are self-actualized, you work hard to grow and
become who you want to be in life and reach your full
potential.
• Person recognises what they are capable of and
accordingly strives to make that a reality
Self-actualisation
• Self-actualisation may take a variety of forms, such as:
• Striving to be a good parent
• Striving to be a successful entrepreneur
• Trying to maximise your potential as a musician,
athlete or artist
• However, in order to achieve this stage, what must be
done first?
• Overcome all previous stages
Self-actualisation
• What self-actualisation examples can you think of in
the workplace?
• Feels fulfilled in their work
• Is given /takes responsibility and works hard
• Feels like an expert in their field, or on way there
• Being the ‘go-to’ person in your department
• Heading/leading a successful project
Video: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Up and the Hierarc

hy of Needs
Career Motivations
• When setting goals and subsequently striving to
achieve them what is the key?
• Motivation
• It is stated that motivation takes on two forms
• What are they?
• Intrinsic
• Extrinsic
Career Motivations
• Concept of motivation may be centred on ensuring:
• Maximum pleasure but minimal discomfort
• May relate to any number of areas, such as:
• Work
• Hobbies
• Eating
• Resting
Career Motivations
• In context of work..
• Staff need some reason to continue their work
• What is encouragement for this majority of time?
• Pay
• Sometimes not enough
• Lack of motivation leads to what?
• Low quality work
Career Motivations
• Career motivations can be risk driven
• What jobs can you think of that are risk driven?
• Stockbroker
• Financial trader
• Entrepreneur
Career Motivations
• Security of successful, safe, stable and well-directional
career will hold attraction of other people
• They want to know job is secure to give them ability to
do what?
• Create a home
• Have a family
Career Motivations
• Sense of achievement will motivate the person to
work more
• Considering Maslow’s hierarchy again..
• Career people look for safety of stable job
• Feel they belong and are worthy of place in
organisation
Company Location
• Location of company can motivate or de-motivate
depending on needs of individual
• E.g., a company sets up in Dubai’s financial district
Company Location
• Could be motivating for you to move to energetic,
densely populated and bustling part of city
• On the other hand..
• More family orientated person may not be motivated
by working there but want to stay in Bahrain
• How about you?
Video: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Despicable me and the hier

archy of needs