Motivator or Hygiene Factor?
Featured in the Motivation in Practice training manual
By Eddie Davies
Category: People Management and Motivation
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
This training activity introduces participants to one of the key motivational concepts – Frederick Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory, which differentiates between ‘hygiene factors’ and ‘motivators’. Herzberg proposed that too many managers were concerned to motivate their staff by ensuring that both physical and psychological working conditions were beneficial. He pointed out that, while these factors could be a source of dissatisfaction, they rarely motivated a worker to greater commitment. He called these hygiene factors – a medical analogy – in that, while they prevent dissatisfaction they do not encourage real motivation. In this training activity, participants produce an action plan of steps they can take that will enable them to use Herzberg’s ideas to motivate their staff, and increase their performance and effectiveness.
You begin this training activity by asking the participants to think of times when they have been very motivated or demotivated at work. Their answers are compared with Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory. Following a discussion on how managers can motivate their staff, you issue a questionnaire that, on completion, helps identify their level of motivation of the individual. You review the training activity with a syndicate exercise during which participants produce an action plan of steps they can take to help motivate staff, and increase their performance and effectiveness.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to introduce the key concepts behind Frederick Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory to participants.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:15:00 |
| No of Pages: | 13 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers on any training event that focus on motivation. It has been successfully used on training programmes such as an introduction to effective management, building and leading a team, improving staff performance, and self and time management.
Download the training activity, Motivator or Hygiene Factor? as featured in the Fenman training manual; Motivation in Practice