Purchasing

Mary Walker

What motivates you?
August 28, 2007

Recently, I read an article about what motivates employees that stated “The factors that motivate and satisfy employees are not the same things that make them dissatisfied.” 

Among the top motivators were: 

• Achievement                 40%
• Recognition                  30%
• Work Itself                   20%
• Responsibility               20%
• Advancement               10%
• Growth              5%

These are the key elements of people development: Recruit, Develop, Retain, Reward

Companies can no longer hire college grads, bring them in as trainees, and forget they are there. The company must have a planned training program if they want to retain the trainee. At Briggs-Weaver years ago, the trainee started in the warehouse, and then moved through all the departments for a learning process. As they say you get a lot of book learning in school, but see what it’s like in the real world. Jack Welch once stated some 50 percent of his time was focused on people development.

The trainees I have worked with are eager to learn and unless the company has a plan and a path for them to follow, they will be out looking for a job. Retaining employees is a major problem in business today. A friend of mine that is a recruiter told me the average length of time a person stays at a company now is five years.

What turns off an employee? Hygiene Factors (Negative) 

• Company policy and administration                   38%
• Supervision                                                       20%
• Relationship with supervisor                              10%
• Work conditions                                               10%
• Salary                                                               8%
• Relationship with peers                         6%
• Personal life                                                      5%
• Relationship with subordinates               9%
• Status                                                               9%
• Security                                                            5%

How do you add up in this? Possibly this is why it is so hard to retain the younger generation. Some of my friends that have changed jobs recently really negotiated salary, vacation, cost of moving and etc. If you have good qualifications, you can do some negotiating.   In procurement, more and more companies are requiring degrees, preferably MBA’s now, certifications, experience and good references. I was actually called on recently for a reference of one of my coworkers. I think we are only actually allowed to comment on how the person was to work with. Companies have some strict rules on giving recommendations. 

I don’t suggest job hopping, however don’t stay in a position that you are unhappy with.

A job that you hate to get up in the morning to go to. Take your time and look around

Do some networking with your professional organizations. Your performance and productivity shine in a job you are happy with. 

Posted by Mary Walker on August 28, 2007 | Comments (2)