Applying Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs To A Modern Workplace

 

A Brief  To Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs 

psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a theory in 1943 that humans possess five levels of needs. Starting with physiological needs like food and shelter, followed by safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization. He suggested that people are driven to fill the first tier of needs before moving up to higher needs (Kulhari, 2021).

the need hierarchy, as shown in Figure, demonstrates Maslow's concept that people satisfy their needs in a particular order, beginning with the most basic needs at the bottom and progressing to the highest needs at the top.

Implementing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

When applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs to your professional life, it is beneficial to identify potential areas of improvement. Employers can help fulfill many of these needs. However, you must be mindful of how your needs might affect your overall success in a given job. For instance, if you are prone to feeling rejected, a sales job may prove difficult (Herrity, 2019).

Top of the hierarchy

To reach peak motivation in the workplace, one must be self-aware and understand their strengths and capabilities. When individual needs are met, such as feeling secure, accepted and self-actualized, this can have a positive influence on the workplace and lead to an engaged and motivated team (Herrity, 2019).

Motivation and job satisfaction

Employers should care for their staff's wellbeing and happiness, which is linked to engagement and motivation. It is crucial to reflect on whether your needs are being fulfilled in your job. Your needs should be prioritized, and you can make constructive changes in your professional life to ensure an upbeat and engaging work environment (Herrity, 2019).

Applying Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs To A Modern Workplace

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs can be applied to a modern workplace in order to understand the motivation of employees and ensure that their needs are met.

 1. Physiological needs

For our survival, we must have access to the basics: food, water, and shelter. In the working environment, this equates to receiving a wage corresponding to our role, having a space to consume meals, having clean restrooms, and having access to water stations positioned in the office.

 2. Security needs

The second level of needs entails feeling physically secure, such as having job security and feeling safe on the job. When these essential needs are not met, employees may experience higher levels of stress which can hinder their motivation and job satisfaction. For instance, those who work in hazardous environments such as oil rigs are often more prone to feeling distressed and less fulfilled in their job.

3. Social needs

It is essential to have a sense of belonging in any social situation in order to have positive mental health. Loneliness in the Western world has become more prevalent during the pandemic, with research referring to it as the "heightened during the pandemic". Statistics have shown how loneliness can lead to cognitive decline, premature ageing and serious health issues. In the workplace, it is important to create a culture of acceptance and inclusivity to ensure that everyone feels welcome, which is key to the mental wellbeing and motivation of staff.

 4. Esteem needs

We all need recognition and appreciation from those around us to help us build a sense of self-worth. In the workplace, providing positive feedback and congratulations when someone does a good job can be a great motivator and help an individual feel valued and respected. Low self-esteem can lead to issues such as imposter syndrome, so it is important to provide support and affirm an individual's capabilities to help them grow and develop healthy self-esteem.

 5. Self-actualization 

Self-actualization is the highest desire in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It's the need to become everything one is capable of being, and have a greater purpose in what we do. It's also the desire to find our authentic selves and have a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment in our work. To reach this goal, it's important to understand ourselves; what motivates us, how do we deal with stress? Additionally, having peak experiences, or rare moments of happiness and fulfilment, is a sign of self-actualization. If you're having trouble reaching this state, try engaging in some self-reflection and taking a step back to look at the bigger picture.

                                                                  (Strick, 2022).

 Real Life Examples of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's hierarchy of needs provides a useful framework for understanding customer behavior and how to market products to them. It can help marketers to segment their target audience and craft messages that will convince customers that their needs can be met through the purchase of a particular product. While this theory has its limitations, it can still be a useful tool in marketing.

Physiological Needs - UberEats.

Physiological needs are fundamental and essential to human survival. An example of this is the need for food. UberEats has used visuals such as photos and text in their app, as well as in their marketing and advertising campaigns, to stimulate cravings and give customers an assurance that their needs will be satisfied.

Safety - Volvo

All car brands strive to be regarded as providing the highest level of safety. Volvo stands out in terms of effectively demonstrating their commitment to this goal.

Love & Belonging -  Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola is well-known for its advertisements that feature families, Christmas, and communities, often with food and a bottle of their soda. The company asserts that their product is capable of uniting people and providing a pleasurable experience.

Self-Esteem - Dove.

The Dove advertisement campaign aims to make women feel beautiful and confident, regardless of their perceived imperfections. This should successfully position Dove in the minds of women who don't strive for eternal youth and perfect beauty.

 Self-Actualization - Tesla.

It appears that Elon's accomplishments have made him feel satisfied and fulfilled. Many people have seen a rise in their status with the purchase of a Tesla or Tesla stock, and it is easy to understand why - it provides them with the opportunity to demonstrate their environmental consciousness while also looking cool.

                                                                    (Avocado, 2021).

Conclusion

understanding Maslow's hierarchy of needs is essential in providing a fulfilling work environment. By providing support in the five areas of need - physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization - employers can create a space that encourages productivity and job satisfaction. Companies should strive to ensure that employees have their basic needs met so they can begin to focus on higher-level needs. This can lead to more positive outcomes such as improved creativity, problem-solving, and team building.

Reference list

Avocado, J. the (2021). Real Life Examples of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/real-life-examples-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-7293794a0531 [Accessed 21 Apr. 2023].

Herrity, J. (2019). Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the Workplace | Indeed.com. [online] Indeed. Available at: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs [Accessed 20 Apr. 2023].

Kulhari, R. (2021). Council Post: Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs In Your Organization: How To Support Your Employees At Every Stage. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/06/10/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-in-your-organization-how-to-support-your-employees-at-every-stage/?sh=7bcee6743b59 [Accessed 20 Apr. 2023].

Strick, J. (2022). Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs To A Modern Workplace. [online] www.ecoportal.com. Available at: https://www.ecoportal.com/blog/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs [Accessed 20 Apr. 2023].