The Goal Setting Theory for Employee Motivation

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Goal setting theory can help motivate employees to do their job as managers can relate to Professor Edwin Locke goal theory. The underlying concept behind this theory is the belief that people’s goals play a vital part in deciding their behavior. People drive to satisfy these goals to help their emotions and desires. Goals guide people’s responses and actions. Goals command employee performance and actions and this can call for action or feedback. The effort that individuals will exert in attempting to achieve goals is determined by the difficulty and commitment to achieving that goal. Practical examples of goal setting include achieving deadlines attaining levels of performance or the concept of management by objectives.

Locke believes that in order for goals to motivate individuals they should be involved in deciding the goals that they should achieve and that these goals should be difficult but acceptable. Difficult goals should be achieved through guidance, feedback and advice. This can be linked to job satisfaction, if goals are set at difficult yet achievable levels and attainment provides satisfaction and reinforcement for the attainment of subsequent goals. Goals which are either too simple or too difficult to achieve may not motivate individuals. If employees are not involved in the goals setting process they may not be motivated to strive to achieve these goals, this is why managers should take the time to set these goals with their employees. Appropriate advice and guidance must accompany goal achievement or this if not present may have a negative effect on the employee’s motivation.

By setting goals for employees it will help them to have a purpose on what they want to achieve. Employees can get motivated to achie...

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...ey are also people who want to get promotions and bonuses, for managers to get the very best out of theory y workers they would need to reward them, examples include bonuses and promotion, also award them with more freedom while working and this will help show the employees creativity

Overall goal setting theory can be used to motivate employees and this can help a manager and their business to succeed as employees are motivated to do their job.

References

Mind tools. (2014). Locke's Goal Setting Theory. Available: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_87.htm. Last accessed 28th March 2014.

Top achievement. (2012). creating smart goals. Available: http://topachievement.com/smart.html. Last accessed 29th March 2014.

Business balls. (2014). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Available: http://www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm. Last accessed 1st April 2014.

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