Motivation and Organizational Behavior

This essay reflects on the dominant motivational patterns and their influence on work assignments and career paths. The essay uses Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory to explain the dominant behavior patterns and their impact on job performance.

Running head: ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1
Organization Behavior
Name:
Institution

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 2
Introduction
Motivation is the internal or external factors which energize and direct how humans and
other organisms behave. Motivation is important for better outcomes and it is reinforced by skills
knowledge and the ability of an individual. Several motivation dominant patterns like fear of
failure, fear of criticism, perfectionism, and others drive individuals to achieve their goals. The
purpose of this essay is to reflect on my motivational patterns.
a) Using theories of motivation as a guide, describe your dominant motivational
pattern(s). (In other words what drives you?)
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory explains my dominant behavior patterns in achieving
my goals whereby my motivation progresses from basic needs to personal achievement needs.
Perfectionism as a dominant behavior pattern can be met only after meeting needs in the lower
hierarchy such as water, food before meeting needs in the higher hierarchy like the need of
belonging (Taormina & Gao, 2013). After fulfilling needs such as love and sense of belonging, it
is when I can strive for esteem needs. Once needs in the lower and middle hierarchy are
achieved, perfectionism can be achieved using needs in the high hierarchy. Self-actualization
reduces strive and increases yearning for the fulfillment of life. I consider self-actualization as
perfection as I achieve the desired needs like fame, power, and recognition.
b) Explain how your dominant motivational pattern(s) influence your preferences for
work assignments and career paths
My achievement and organization goals are independent and linked with motivation and
the positive reinforcement that I get from the working environment. Dominant motivation
patterns play a key role in the success of a company. Salary and fringe being financial motivating

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 3
factors can influence the preference for work assignment (Sanjeev & Surya, 2016). When the
salary is high, I would not resist taking any job assigned to me and hence this will increase the
productivity of the organization and the work performance. On the hand, supervision, a dominant
motivation factor may impact on the performance and the organization as a whole. Poor
supervision demoralizes the efforts put in achieving the organization’s goals. Additionally, apart
from monetary motivation, job responsibility can grant more authority to carry out the allocated
tasks (Jansen & Samuel, 2014). I can be motivated by the responsibility to present creative and
innovative ideas since other people are looking upon me. More so, the job itself can influence my
career paths and preferences for task assignments if there are promotion opportunities.
Perfectionism may also influence my career paths and influence task assignment as stated
in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Since motivation progresses from the lower levels in the
pyramid, perfectionism can be achieved after meeting the needs in the lower ranks. Achieving
perfectionism will make me whole and make me suit in a certain class of people. This will
motivate me to work hard to achieve my personal desire which will help in achieving the
organization goals (Facer, Galloway, Inoue & Zigarmi, 2014). Perfection can be achieved by
gaining fame, power, and recognition. Fame is a personal achievement which assists me to
maintain good performance and produce outstanding outcomes in order to maintain the respect
bestowed to me and the reputation. Power gives authority which influences decision making and
this may impact an organization positively for the achievement of its objectives.
c) Identify which motivational patterns in others are the most compatible and most
incompatible with your dominant motivational pattern(s), and explain why.
Growth motivation behavior is compatible with my perfectionism motivation behavior pattern.
Other people are motivated by the desire to grow by seeing themselves progress and develop both in their

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 4
career path and in the achievement of the organizational goals (Reagan, Bliss, Van Houten & Hilton,
2013). The growth behavior pattern will drive them to do their best so that they achieve their growth
needs. On the hand, perfectionism which is the desire to achieve self-actualization make me work hard
and achieve the needs in the lower hierarchy. I will go on until I achieve the topmost needs in the
hierarchy. However, other people undervalue rewards since they consider reward not worth the effort
used in achieving the organization’s goals. The rewards may be in terms of money, security, and others
(Uzonna, 2013). I value rewards since they motivate me to work hard and accept any work assignments
given to me. We don't all have the same patterns of motivation. The ones that motivate me may be a
demotivating pattern to another person.
Conclusion
Motivation as an internal or external factor that stimulates the desire and energy to
achieve goals has a big impact on job performance. Dominant behavior patterns as described in
the theories of motivation; that is the Maslow’ hierarchy of needs and Herzberg’s two-factor
theory include, security, power, perfectionism, salary, authority, recognition, and responsibility.
The dominant behavior pattern influences the task assignments and career paths which in turn
influences the achievement of personal and organizational goals.

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 5
References
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Uzonna, U. R. (2013). Impact of motivation on employees performance: A case study of
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