Motivation: The Carrot and Stick Model

MOTIVATION: THE CARROT AND STICK MODEL

This model is an adaptation of the donkey story. Two things make the donkey move: either the Carrot or the Stick. If you put a carrot in the front of donkey, it moves, whip it with a stick at the back, it moves. The carrot is a bait which can be likened to rewards which await subordinates on the accomplishment of their tasks. The stick can be seen as penalties which awaits them on the non-performance of their tasks. Both of them (Carrot and Stick) cause or instigate performance.

It is quite interesting to induce behavior in workers by “dangling rewards in their face,” Most workers put in efforts because of what they expect in return. This may not be the best way to motivate. Carrot is most times Money or Bonuses. Managers need to get subordinates to work and produce maximally without having an eye on the carrot. More so, carrot is made available to people at times regardless of performance. People get promoted, salaries are reviewed upwards, long-term service awards are given, etc. without extraordinary outstanding performance.

Sticks also may be the only reason some subordinates work. Almost all organizations have one or more difficult employees who will do a job not because they are supposed to do it, but because a penalty awaits them if they fail to do it. Sticks are used to induce fear in the minds of such subordinates. The fears can be of loss of job, demotion, transfer, reduction of pay, etc. It may be difficult to do without sticks in an organization, but a good manager does not always have to wield a stick to make subordinates work. He will if he has to, but it is better to know the type of subordinates under one’s influence, and to relate with them in a way that maximum performance can ensue from them.