Part 4: Applied Motivation

MGMT 2026: Management and Leadership

Personal Learning Cloud / e-Portfolio

Part 4: Applied Motivation

 In the restaurant that I am employed in our main task is to achieve overall customer satisfaction. By making sure the customer is getting great service as well as enjoying any drinks are food being ordered, getting food and drinks out in a mannerly timing, these are ways that the employee makes sure the customer is satisfied. A customer being satisfied will ensure that they may come back and recommend the restaurant to other people.

    In the restaurant, my role is to ensure that the customer is getting their drinks quickly, and making sure the drinks are made to their preference. As well as when not actively making drinks, I help out in making sure other drinks are full and the customer has everything they may need. I am also tasked with keeping the bar clean and all supplies filled. It is a small role in the grand scheme of things but still important to the overall satisfaction of a customer.

 Ways to Increase Motivation

1.    Set Goals – Setting small goals that can be achieved quickly. Setting larger goals can also be a good motivator but setting small goals that can be achieved within a couple of days can help boost motivation. Anytime you complete a goal there is a sense of achievement that makes you feel good about the work you are doing.

2.    Recognition – By making sure employees know they are doing a good job. This can increase motivation because when you know some is recognizing your hard work you feel more inclined to keep doing good work.

3.    Find a purpose – Finding a purpose for the work you are doing. By understanding that every bit of work you are doing has a purpose in the bigger picture. Doing work that doesn’t seem useful and be un motivating but when you realize every amount of work you do adds up and contributes to the end product it can seem more motivating.

4.    Reward yourself – Reward yourself after completing tasks. Whether it be by taking a small break or getting yourself a treat, getting a reward can motivate you into completing more tasks. Even the small tasks can seem daunting sometimes but if you know you are working towards something it may make it seem easier to do.

5.    Be encouraging – Encouraging your team can be motivating. When an employee feels like someone has their back and is rooting them on it will make them feel more motivated. Celebrating the small things and feeling like a team in the workplace can go a long way in motivating them.

6.    Be positive – Being in a positive workplace. As an employee, I think being in a positive workplace is more motivating than being in a workplace where everyone is negative and focusing on what goes wrong rather than what goes right. Something is bound to go wrong at some point in a workplace but rather than focusing on that, I think it is more motivating to focus on what has gone right.

 

The overall motivation plan I have is based mostly on the reinforcement theory. I believe people are more motivated when the work they do is appreciated and noticed. When people believe the work they do is meaningful they will put in there best effort. In all I believe a supportive work place and having purpose with in your team is the greatest motivator.