The first thing that Andy mentions that people work for is
interesting work. (Mulholland, 2011) I fix fighter aircraft avionics systems
for a living, so I would say that the job itself is inherently interesting.
Every day I go out it’s a different problem that I have to fix, so I never know
what I’m going to get. By not doing the same mundane thing every day, I believe
that this job has become much more satisfying than any other job I’ve had.
The second thing that Andy mentions that people want is the
expansion of their skill set. (Mulholland, 2011) Throughout ones career in the Air
Force, proper education is one that is afforded to every enlisted personnel.
Upon sewing on that first SSgt. Stripe, members enter what’s called Airman
Leadership School where they learn to become good front line supervisors. Upon
sewing on higher ranks, other types of management/leadership schools are
mandatory. There is also the opportunity for off-duty education through the use
of Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill. This is something I’m taking advantage
of by registering for this class. So the Air Force does do a good job, in my
opinion, in affording the opportunity to expand a person’s skill set.
The last little bit that Andy mentions is that employees
crave recognition. (Mulholland, 2011) A program called the Bellow-The-Zone
(BTZ) program gives Airmen the opportunity to sew on their next rank 6 months
earlier than all of their peers. I worked real hard when I arrived to my first
duty station and I was one of few that got selected for BTZ. I sewed on shortly
thereafter and I felt more motivated than ever to complete the mission.
One of my own personal motivators to keep me going with my
job is a sense of security; not job security, but life security. The military
provides a very generous retirement package for those that put in 20 years of
service and this alone helps fulfill one of what I like to consider as a Maslow
hierarchical of needs. By working hard and putting in my 20 years of service to
my country, I will in turn make sure that I am well taken care of for the rest
of my life.
Alderfer mentions that one basic need for a person is
growth. (Whetten & Cameron, 2013) By providing a clear
path of what I need to do to get promotions, I am motivated by setting my own
goals to get these promotions. Working hard isn’t mandatory for everyone, but
the idea of growth and life security work hand in hand to making sure I give it
my all. The further ahead I go in my military career, the bigger the retirement
package is for when I get out.
The final motivator for me is the fact that I am able to
establish a relationship with my clients. This can be defined as something that
“involves an ongoing personal relationship between an employee (the producer)
and the client (the consumer).” (Whetten & Cameron, 2013) In this case my
clients are the pilots that depend upon me to give them good aircraft to fly.
By being able to talk to them directly and build upon a relationship, I am able
to see the direct results and get feedback for the job that I do. It can
sometimes be said that a happy pilot makes for a happy maintainer.
References
Mulholland, A. (2011). The Three Things We Work
For (Money Isn't One of Them). Retrieved from books24x7:
http://library.books24x7.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/toc.aspx?site=BW9SX&bookid=43753
Whetten, D., & Cameron, K. (2013). Developing
Mangement Skills. New Jersey: Pearson.
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