What is motivation? Motivation is defined as “an individual's willingness to respond to the needs of the organization in the short term”. (P.71 Dixon, 1998) For the purposes of this research paper, I find that the most appropriate definition of motivation is to define it as “the force that energizes, directs, and supports behavior.” (uri.com, 2014) Motivation is fundamental to productivity. A highly motivated staff often leads to high workforce productivity. But why is motivating staff the most difficult task for managers in so many companies? One of the main reasons is because “individual-level behavior is a very complex phenomenon” (Davidson 2005, p.304). Clearly, if a manager wants to build and/or sustain a successful company, he or she must “make worker motivation an important thing.” top priority of their work.” (Harvard Business School Press, 2005, P.3) To increase the level of motivation of a given worker, we should be aware of the needs and perception of the workers. Workers' needs are their desires that are not realized. The current and expected impression of an employee's position within a given company is the employees' perception of themselves in that company. (Dixon, 1998, p.72) To discover a worker's needs and perceptions, a manager can use Maslow's theory which explains an individual's hierarchy of needs in combination with Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y to identify his needs. You can then come up with a plan to increase motivation so they can perform the tasks of their job at the most optimal level. According to Maslow, an individual's needs are the primary motivators that drive that person. An individual's needs have been classified into 5 levels. In descending order, there are cars... in the center of the sheet... that address the problem. A more consultative and participatory management style is encouraged by Theory Y. (Dixon 1998, P.64) Employees in this environment are assumed to be self-controlled and self-motivated. Managers will very often assume that employees want to do their jobs well and will do their best. Managers in this context also often have more trust between themselves and their employees and as a result there is less distinction between the superior and the subordinate. Employees in this environment often play a role in the decision-making process. One possible indicator of a lack of motivation among staff members is low overall productivity. By understanding and meeting their mental and physical needs, creating a safe and secure work environment, and rewarding good worker performance, you can boost morale. Motivation can be enhanced and productivity can be increased.