Motivation (positive reinforcement at work)
Introduction
Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to motivate, increase productivity and retain employees; it involves rewarding behaviours that you want repeated this reinforces the desired behaviour so that it is most likely repeated.
Need to determine how, when, and where to admininster positive reinforcement; need to provide
"...essential ingredients for creating a reward rich environment which employees do not merely survive but actually flourish..."
S. Lewis as quoted by Heather S. Lonczak, 2019
NB
"...the notion that encouraging an employee to do what he/she does best (rather than simply discouraging his/her challenge areas) is the best way to create a motivating environment..."
Heather S. Lonczak, 2019
Positive vs negative reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is defined as
"...adding a rewarding stimulus (eg bonus) in order to increase a positive behaviour (eg productivity)..."
Heather S. Lonczak, 2019
While negative reinforcement is defined as
"...reducing an aversive stimulus (eg crowded office setting) in order to increase a positive behaviour (eg , productivity)..."
Heather S. Lonczak, 2019
Both reinforcements aimed at increasing behavioural outcomes; with the positive reinforcement generally more "...intuitive or natural as it only involves positive, or desirable, conditions and behaviours. Negative reinforcement......requires the condition be perceived as undesirable and amenable change based on employees behaviour..."
Heather S. Lonczak, 2019
For example, increasing sales by employee can be done:
| Reinforcement type | Example | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | - add a monetary bonus - add extra vacation days - add graphic displaying successes to the team - add verbal phrase - add stock options - and a personal assistant |
Increased sales |
| Negative | - reduce commute time and stress by altering employee hours - reduce office noise and lack of privacy by altering office situation - reduce workload to make it more manageable - reduce parking costs by offering free parking - reduce lengthy and frequent meetings (source: Heather S. Lonczak, 2019) |
Increase sales |
In effectiveness positive versus negative reinforcement is not straightforward, there is likely to be some experimentation.
Generally there are more opportunities for enhancing a positive stimulus in the workplace than reducing a negative one.
"...work experience in which employees enjoy satisfying compensation, opportunities for growth, and pleasant work environment is the best place to start..."
Heather S. Lonczak, 2019