Our motivations vary – it is the result of differences in our cultural backgrounds. Our goals help us focus on achieving what we want to achieve, and we know that having a goal makes it more probable that we will actually get there. However, what motivates one person to chase their goals can be rather different from what motivates someone else.
There are two types of people
Managers need to know a lot about motivation. They want to generate certain behavioral responses in their employees and customers. There are basically two types of people. The first type is highly motivated when it comes to actually achieving a goal, for example losing weight. The problem for this type of person is to maintain what they have achieved. The other type struggles with achieving any goal, but once they manage to actually do it, they have no problem finding the motivation to maintain what they have already achieved. It depends on how individuals see themselves in relation to others, claims the knowledge.insead.edu website.
Attain or maintain?
People from more independent cultures, for example the United States, are much more motivated when they are attaining goals. On the other hand, those from more interdependent cultures, such as China, are more motivated by maintaining what they have already achieved. Why?
People from independent cultures are used to focusing on their own abilities and preferences. They are driven by their sense of self. People from interdependent cultures define themselves through a sense of connectedness with others. They feel that maintaining social harmony is desirable.
Example: When you try to motivate your customers, you must think about what will work best. In the US, a banker would give their customers some benefits to increase their savings account. In China, you would motivate them by giving some bonuses to their family or social group, or offering them certain benefits for maintaining their savings at a certain level.
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