Question

1.How does your job/workplace motivate you? At first, many people will respond with money/salary.

The reality is that most people want fulfillment out of their work - happy employees = productive employees.

2.What do you think of Zappos' structure and motivation techniques?

Answer 1

Motivation, especially in today’s business landscape is represented as a function of both the internal and external factors that create the necessary drive and engagement and make use of the necessary aspects of performance in order to create a better understanding and planning for the future goals of the individual.

With this in mind, I believe that both have their place in the workplace. Depending on the challenge at hand, sometimes, there might be a need to address morale and motivation with external benefits like some form of compensation, a commission, or a gain sharing model. Most of the time however engagement is a function of carefully planned job roles and task division. HR is more responsible in this area but the leader has to play an active part in order to address the necessary changes in the later stages.

My previous job had fewer considerations for employee engagement and more towards the volume of work output. Therefore, the only concern the supervisors had in terms of engagement was towards providing monetary benefits attached to the volume of the work accomplished.
The current position I work at has a different approach for the same. The team leader recognizes the need for creativity and group collaboration and follows an almost Laissez-Faire style of leadership, providing the necessary support, but letting the individual make their decisions and work according to what they believe is the best outlook to achieve the necessary outcome.

2. The prime example of this approach is Zappos and how it has managed to create their unique and innovative culture where their focus on employee’s interests has led to innovativeness, an increase in general creativity, and the level of engagement shown by the employees. By creating a holistic approach to recruitment, setting the criteria to look for talented individuals with a unique vision to add to the present talent in the company is something “magical.”

Considering how quickly the company gained recognition and was able to lead in its marketplace has a lot to do with how it approaches managing talent, providing decision making autonomy and providing engagement, all the while maintaining a culture that exhibits the same values and preaches it at its core so that its managers can assist in this endeavor

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