An ambitious reference book designed to give managers practical help with every aspect of motivation, has been published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The Motivation Handbook, unveiled at HRD 2002 the Institute’s annual training event, looks at how to motivate different character types, it also addresses how managers can get to grips with motivating temporary, ‘virtual’ and home-based workers.

The handbook is the first book to apply virtually all the classic academic theories to situations arising in the modern workplace. Instead of presenting managers with theory, it describes real life problems and draws from a plethora of established research to come up with practicable solutions.

Authors Sarah Hollyforde and Steve Whiddett explore the motivational elements of a manager’s job under six main headings, including how the manager communicates and introduces change. The authors then explain how the most respected academic research can be used to foster the right environment and work patterns to ensure staff are fully motivated.

Hollyforde, a qualified human resources manager who has 20 years’ experience in people management in the private and public sector, went back nearly 50 years to source and bring together the major acknowledged expertise on motivation.

The authors add their own expertise to that of the experts whose theories they explain and apply. “Motivation is not something that can be imposed,” they say. “What organisations and managers can do is provide the environment, support and resources that impact on the motivation of individuals.

“This can be in the form of providing the rewards, working conditions, systems and processes, learning opportunities, encouragement – and so on – that maximise the chances that employees will be motivated to give their best to the organisation.”

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