Employees want to know
what their company
expects of them

Motivating workers is a multi-step procedure. As discussed in recent columns, managers must identify and nurture various worker valences such as a need for achievement or a need to assist others. Then, the managers must make sure that employees are confident about the link between using their valences and receiving workplace rewards. For example, workers with a high achievement need must be certain that if they complete projects successfully then they will receive rewards such as salary increases and promotions.

Another important step in motivating the work force is dealing with employee expectations. If people are willing to work hard and know that they will be rewarded, then they have a desire to invest their best efforts into the company. But will these best efforts lead to success? Do people have expectations that their hard work will lead to positive outcomes in the future? If they do have such expectations, are they confident about positive outcomes in their current company, or do they feel that they will have more career success if they move to another organization?

Young people's experience with basketball provides a good example of expectations. Many children and teenagers play organized basketball. This satisfies different valences: physical exercise, achievement and the satisfaction of working with teammates. There are various rewards such as applause from adults, admiration from same-age peers, trophies and sometimes newspaper coverage. So with the combination of valences and rewards, people have a desire to perform. But how about expectations for the future? Do young basketball players expect to continue with the sport and to attain the riches and celebrity of professional athletes? Most people conclude that they do not expect to play on a professional basketball team and so look for other career-developing possibilities.

People in Hawaii are familiar with another example of expectations. Year after year, thousands of residents fly to Las Vegas with the expectation of going to casinos and winning money.

They feel that they can beat the odds, which always favor the casino, and come home with more money than they brought. Even if they come home with less money, they put their positive expectations into planning for their next trip.

When applied to worker motivation, managers must communicate that employees have a positive future. Workers need to know that if they work hard for their present company, then they will have good careers. Workers should be clear about the future possibilities of promotions, salary increases, travel and other company perks.

Managers do not want to lose their best workers. If employees feel that their expectations concerning the future are pessimistic given their present employment, they will likely switch jobs. This will leave managers holding the bag. They will have lost good people and will have to go through the time and expense of hiring new workers.

Unfortunately, positive expectancies are no guarantee of success.

People must also possess the appropriate abilities to accomplish difficult and challenging tasks. This will be the topic of next week's column.