NARRATOR: Frederick Herzberg's motivation theory shows us why some staff are motivated and some will never be. Herzberg found that there are some things that ensure a staff member does not become dissatisfied at work. These include working conditions, salary, management style, security, status, and the job itself. He referred to these as hygiene factors. If these things are not supplied to the employee's satisfaction, then they are dissatisfied at work.

Herzberg also found that certain things motivate an employee to higher performance. These include achievement, recognition, responsibility, advancement opportunities, and growth within the job. He referred to these as motivating factors.

So he found that hygiene factors make a dissatisfied employee satisfied but not motivated. To get an employee motivated, we need to ensure we concentrate on the real motivators. So ask yourself, do I provide opportunities for staff to be motivated, or am I just working on the satisfiers? This will help you achieve a higher performance from more motivated employees.