motivational analysis of organizations

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3. Guiding subordinates in planning activities;
4. Evaluating the outcomes of activities;
5. Helping to plan future activities on the basis of past experiences; and
6. Rewarding subordinates for satisfactory or superior work.
Understanding the Needs of Subordinates
An effective supervisor understands how individual subordinates are motivated and
what their needs are. Such understanding helps in assessing their tasks and performance
and then later in guiding future activities.
Continual Evaluation
To guide subordinates effectively, a supervisor must observe their activities. Because a
manager may have a very limited amount of time to observe all subordinates, a
mechanism should be developed for obtaining and maintaining information about their
various activities. Periodic discussions with individual subordinates can be helpful in
obtaining such information.
Guidance in Planning Activities
Supervision also involves helping subordinates to plan their activities. This may include
providing information and helping to set goals and priorities.
Providing Rewards
Managing also has a motivational aspect: rewarding workers when they accomplish
something worthwhile. When a supervisor fails to do this, employees’ motivational
levels drop. Rewards need not always be monetary; receiving greater responsibility or a
verbal expression of appreciation can be highly rewarding to subordinates.
STYLES OF SUPERVISION
Although every supervisor is unique in some way, certain supervisory styles are
characteristic of the majority of managers. Any manager may incorporate more than one
of these styles into his or her own, depending on the situation.
Authoritarian and Democratic Styles
Lippitt and White (1943) identify two types of leaders: authoritarian and democratic.
The authoritarian leader determines all policies and strategies, decides on the
composition and tasks of the work teams, is personal in giving praise and criticism, and
maintains some personal distance from employees. In contrast, the democratic leader
ensures that policies and strategies are determined by the group, gives technical advice
whenever the group needs it, allows freedom to group members to choose their work
The Pfeiffer Library Volume 19, 2nd Edition. Copyright © 1998 Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer