McClelland’s Need Theory of Motivation

Motivation is one of the largest reasons for company success. There are many types of motivational theory, but McClelland’s Need Theory of Motivation is so much effective. So, here we discuss McClelland’s need theory of motivation:

McClelland’s Need Theory of Motivation

D.C. McClelland discusses three types of needs:

1. The need for achievement;
2. The need for power and
3. The need for affiliation.

McClelland is of the opinion that a person with a high need for achievement possesses certain characteristics which enable him to work better in some situations than in others.

Those characteristics of an achiever are as follow:

• He prefers tasks in which he can take personal responsibility for the outcome;
• He sets moderate goals and takes a calculated risk;
• He wants precise feedback concerning his successes or failure;
• He prefers co-workers who are competent despite his personal feelings about them.

He also found that the drive for achieving varies in individuals according to their personality and cultural background. He classified managers as ‘high achievers’ and ‘low achievers’ and suggested that ‘high achievers’ are more successful managers that ‘low achievers’.

It is thus important to identify the personal characteristics of both high achievers and low achievers if the best is to be obtained out of people.

‘High achievers’ and ‘low achievers’ and suggested that ‘high achievers’ are more successful managers that ‘low achievers’.

Related Content of Motivation:

• Various Sources of Motivation for Employees
• Special Motivational Techniques for Worker / Employee