Motivations are not something visible, they are related to our identity and are very important to understand our behavior, which is visible to the eyes of others.
Last week I met one of my best friends from the Club with whom I usually have coffee a couple of times a year to philosophize about the past and the present. The talk started with the phrase from the title of this article. You will tell me: Wow! How did he not grab it? Above all, with how complicated it must be to get a job in some industries and not to mention age.
Without entering into arguments about age and opportunities, I want to focus on unravel the reasons for the doubt, something that for many would not generate any hesitation. As I dedicate myself to studying human behavior in organizations of all types, I must say that motivations, interests and preferences are not all the same for each individual.
It is likely that for many the compensation is the most relevant. Not for my friend. You will think he is wrong. Perhaps you will be able to understand it and think that it is done economically and today material things are not a priority. I have to tell you that these motivations and preferences tend to remain quite stable throughout life. My friend is a middle-class professional (if that still exists) and never thought much about money as a priority. As an architect he worked in prestigious studios. He even worked for a time in the Urban Planning Department of the City of Buenos Aires. He also did it for a couple of years teaching classes at a technical school in Villa Ortúzar. So what is your motivational driver? It just happened on the other hand: leaving work early and going to the club, sharing that space with us, the third period. He didn’t care much if he played as a starter. Of course, he was one of those that was never missing. At school it was the same, I often covered for colleagues who were frequently sick. Not to mention complying with all the rules and rituals that one can imagine, both at work and in social and family life. He was and is a person very close to principles and rules. Improvising and taking unnecessary risks is not something that attracts your attention, on the contrary.
We always used to ask him if he liked what he did and he usually answered the same: “I don’t know, but at least it’s a secure job.”
The truth is that my friend is someone educated, prepared, I would say wise. However, he preferred to surf life by being honest with his motivations. This is neither better nor worse than someone to whom I would move that 40% increase without question and if it is accompanied by bonuses, car company and some other benefit, even better. The scale of motivations and interests vary according to each person. And there are jobs, challenges and professional and work demands that require specific motivations to be able to perform that role effectively. Something more than important must be added to this: organizational culture. Every for-profit or non-profit organization has its own way of doing things. Your model of managing and leading. People look for a work space considering whether we will feel comfortable in that culture and the organization will look for the same, identifying whether that candidate will fit its culture.
It is relevant to consider that motivations are not something visible, they are related to our identity and are very important to understand our behavior, which is visible to the eyes of others. Therefore: To understand my performance and want to get the best out of myself as a collaborator in an organization, there is no way to investigate interests, preferences and motivations.
President and founder of CompassLatam.
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
