Motivation in Google company

It is very impressive for a company with 50 000 workers to operate so smoothly and continuously. Instead of focusing more on results than on the people who deliver those results like traditional leadership, Google’s model of motivation is more unique and innovative. The company’s work culture is true to its philosophy:“To create the happiest, most productive workplace in the world.”(Marc 2014) Like other companies, Google had provided it’s employees with both extrinsic and intrinsic reward. However, Google added it’s own unique stuff into these two theories.

Google offers the usual extrinsic benefits such as flex spending accounts, no-cost health and dental benefits, insurance, 401K plans, vacation packages and tuition reimbursements.At the same time other thoughtful extrinsic rewards like on-site car wash, free food, financial support for adopting a child are also provided.These extra support provided would make the employees feel more proud of their company and thus they would want to pay back their company by working more harder.

Besides extrinsic rewards, Google also focuses a lot on helping their employees achieve intrinsic rewards such as Belonging, Self-actualization and power that has been mentioned in Maslow’s Hierachy and McClelland’s Learned Needs.(Joshua 2012) Google company give them surveys about their managers and 30 minutes of a weekly all-hands meeting hosted by Google’s co-founders and called TGIF are devoted to a Q and A session where almost anything can be debated or questioned from the founder’s attire to whether the company is proceeding along the right direction. By doing these things, the employees would be motivated as they can feel that they are treated fairly compared to their managers. They would also notice that their voices are important to the company and would feel a sense of belonging.

Freedom and fun are another two important factors that helped Google become successful.The company allows it’s employees to use 20% of their work time weekly to do whatever they like. Facilities like beach volleyball court and gym are provided. They believe that combining work and fun would bring the employees to their best status. The office designs in the company are also mainly done by the employees. Unlike traditional designs, Google’s designs are done to help it’s employees come up with creative and thoughtful ideas that can help the company. For example, a coach of a train is used as an office as people tend to feel more relaxed in there and can come up with lots of creative ideas.(Marc 2014)

Google believes that creativeness cannot be forced, so they work hard by providing freedom, fun and valuing their employees’ voices. The employees would than feel motivated and would come up with better thoughts.

Citations

The Google way of motivating employees. (2014, September 25). Retrieved January 1, 2015, from http://www.entrepreneurial-insights.com/google-way-motivating-employees/

Cook, J. (2014, May 27). How Google Motivates their Employees with Rewards and Perks. Retrieved January 1, 2015, fromhttp://thinkingleader.hubpages.com/hub/How-Google-Motivates-their-Employees-with-Rewards-and-Perks