Motivation and achievement of goals are closely intertwined and are complementary concepts. The famous English-born writer Michael Korda said: “One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals” (Fowler, 2019). Several theories help understand employee motivation in the workplace, one of which is the goal-setting theory. As Fowler (2019) states, a theory of goal setting, developed by Edwin Locke in 1966, assumes that a person’s behavior is determined by the goals they set for themselves and for the achievement of which they perform specific actions. Therefore, many employees are motivated to reach success at work precisely because of the presence of a set purpose.
In my life, I am always guided by this theory, which in real life works as follows. Considering my emotional state, I realize and evaluate the events and workplace situation. Then, based on this, I determine the goals that I intend to strive for, do a particular job, achieve the outlined outcome, and get satisfaction from this. To reach my goals, I am motivated by the desire to achieve real results and improve my career. Goal setting is the starting point for designing the life we live.
To encourage others to achieve goals, I use Locke’s theory, since real outcomes from my life have repeatedly confirmed the efficiency of this theory. However, it should not be applied in the same way to all people. For various groups of society, different in gender, age, education, and job profiles, the degree of target orientation is diverse. As the experience of my environment shows, clarity, precision, and determination are crucial for men with less education and little work experience. It is much more vital for people with a high education level to set a goal which is a challenge while uncertainty leaves room for creativity.
Motivation and striving for an intended aim are considered the basic needs that are necessary to satisfy each of us. Everyone chooses their own way of achieving aims, depending on what motivates a person; it can be setting goals, believing in their personal ability to complete a task, or establishing positive or negative consequences of their actions. Therefore, motivation is the driving force behind human actions.
Reference
Fowler, S. (2019). Master your motivation: Three scientific truths for achieving your goals. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.