The story is told about an employee who requested his boss to grant him a few days off because he needed to attend to a personal family matter. After asking a few validating questions, the boss said yes!
Consideration
is a powerful instrument of motivation, particularly in the context of
leadership and human behavior in organizational relationships. It refers to the
act of showing empathy for an employee’s needs and well-being. When leaders and
managers exercise consideration, it influences motivation.
For example,
trust, respect, and obedience are strengthened: when direct reports are
listened to, understood, and valued, they are more likely to trust, respect,
and obey the person showing consideration. This positive dynamic in human
behavior gives birth to genuine motivation.
It is a
well-known reality in organizational life that when direct reports are shown
consideration, they become more engaged and committed to their work. They
develop a sense of ownership because they feel that their contributions matter
and are recognized. This kind of engagement leads to increased motivation and
dedication to achieving organizational goals.
Moreover,
consideration helps create an environment of psychological safety, where
subordinates and direct reports feel comfortable taking risks, expressing
ideas, and being vulnerable—without fear of judgment or punishment. Such an
environment fosters creativity, innovation, and intrinsic motivation.
To sum it
up, consideration plays a crucial role in enhancing employee motivation. It
helps build a positive and supportive organizational atmosphere and strengthens
the relationship between leaders and their employees.
However, it must also be said that consideration can be subject to abuse by unscrupulous employees. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the leader or manager to carefully evaluate when and how consideration is granted. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
