A motivator is something that encourages a person to take action, to change, to move.  It's one of our primary needs - the need to be able to "influence" another person.  Often we spin our wheels trying to make another person change. 

 

But you cannot change another person; you can only create a motivational climate that encourages the person to change.  And to make it more complex, every single person brings a unique set of motivators to the workplace. 

 

However, we are more likely to be motivated in similar ways as others who share our generational heritage, because we were influenced by similar cultural and historical happenings.

 

 

For the first time in history, we have 4 generations in the workplace.  Match the name of the generation with what researchers say is the primary motivator for that generation
 
1. Silent Generation (born 1922-1945)          a.  Recognition
2. Boomers (born 1946-1964)                     b.  Loyalty
3. Gen X-ers (born 1965-1980)                   c.  Personal fulfillment
4. Gen Y-ers (born 1981-2000)                   d.  Trust me to let me do it my way
 
Adapted from the book How to Talk So People Listen by Sonya Hamlin. 2006