Motivation is the emotional stimulus that drives us to act. The stimulus can be a need or a drive that energizes certain behaviors. At work, motivation is a combination of all the factors in our work environment that lead to positive or negative efforts. If we understand what motivates us, we will be more likely to achieve our personal and professional goals. Likewise, if organizations know how to motivate employees, they can increase productivity. This ability to increase production is increasingly important as U.S. organizations compete in the global marketplace. While all companies make some effort to motivate employees, a growing number of organizations are introducing new strategies, including different compensation packages, as a means to motivate today's workers. People need to be appreciated to motivate them. Our behavior is influenced by motivation. We have primary and secondary needs that influence our behavior. Some people may be satisfied with the salary and working conditions. Motivation is definitely a challenge and employees need ongoing training to acquire new skills and knowledge. Predicting motivation is difficult. To understand what motivates someone, we need to guess what physiological and psychological processes underlie the behavior. For example, if Yvonne works much harder than Janet, we assume that Yvonne is more motivated than Janet to achieve some goal, perhaps a bonus (http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/02/pink. motivation .bonuses/index.html), a promotion or prestige associated with being the organization's top producer. It seems like Yvonne has a stronger need to work hard. However, unless Yvonne tells us why, we can only guess what her motivation or need might be. Through studies on motivation and behavior...... middle of paper ...... nson) states that the fastest way to motivate individuals is applying a little praise. In fact, the book's advice is to "catch them doing something right!" Emphasize that praise should be specific, appropriate, and immediate. A strong motivational factor influencing worker behavior today is the desire for more free time. More and more often, employers find their workplaces deserted one hour before the end of the day on Friday. Employees leave to get an early start on weekend activities. This practice obviously affects productivity through lost work time, but it can also have an effect on employee morale. Dedicated employees who stay on the job until closing time resent having to deal with work left behind by those who pop out. Increasingly innovative approaches to motivating today's workers can be seen as we adapt to the changing needs of the workforce.