Another famous student of motivation was Victor Vroom. He suggested that a person’s motivation to perform any task was a result of the value he or she placed on the outcome, multiplied by the probability they felt it had of occurring.

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2. Victor Vroom’s Theory of Motivation – Managers
Training in Brisbane
Another famous student of motivation was Victor Vroom.
He suggested that a person’s motivation to perform any task
was a result of the value he or she placed on the
outcome, multiplied by the probability they felt it had of
occurring.

3. The relationship can be expressed as an equation:
F = E x V
Force of motivation = expectancy of desired outcome x value
of that outcome.
Vroom says that the force of a person’s motivation (and
therefore the amount of effort they are likely to put into
something) depends on whether they think it likely that they
can achieve the desired outcome, and how desirable that
outcome is.

4. For example, people need to be motivated to enter a
competition. The force of their motivation needs to be
sufficiently strong to complete the entry process – the
more complex the entry process, the more motivation will
be required.
Force of motivation will depend on how possible a person
thinks it is that they will win the competition. If they think
it is impossible they are unlikely to enter. This is affected
by the extent to which they value the prize.

5. If the prize is a new car and their uninsured car has just
been stolen, the value they place on the car will be high.
Even then, if they think winning is absolutely
impossible, they will be unlikely to enter.
Other factors also influence the motivation, as we
will discuss next.

6. Abilities
There will be a limit beyond which increase in effort
does not improve performance because the individual
does not have the ability to perform at a higher level.
Part of a leaders role is therefore to help improve this
ability, although this may be limited by the individuals
personal limitations.

7. Role perception
Effort may be tempered by an individual’s perception of
their role and how it relates to those around them.
For example, a very enthusiastic member of the team may
temper their enthusiasm if their colleagues are cynical.

8. Past experience
Effort is, at least in part, the result of past experience.
For example, if you had previously entered a competition
and won a car that kept breaking down, the value you
place on the reward will reduce.
Similarly, if you had put an enormous effort into writing a
12-word caption for your competition, and researched
your facts thoroughly yet won nothing, your expectation
that increased effort would result in increased chance of
reward may be reduced.

9. Example:
Anthony Robbins in his book `Awaken the Giant Within’ lists
the following factors as having a powerful influence on
behaviour:
Moving-Toward Values Moving-Away-From Values
Love Rejection
Success Anger
Freedom Frustration
Intimacy Loneliness
Security Depression
Adventure Failure
Power Humiliation
Passion Guilt
Comfort
Health

10. He suggests that any time we make a decision about what
to do, our brain first evaluates whether that action can
possibly lead to either pleasurable or painful states.
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