Because people act in response to both internal choices and environmental influences, their behaviour is a function of both who they are and the environment they are in. You also need to remember that everyone is unique and will act differently because of their individual differences in abilities, needs, motivation to work, and work attitudes. This means that to motivate someone or change their behaviour, you will need to select the most suitable approach for the person and situation you facing to achieve the desired change.The basic approaches you can use to change behaviour are:
- Positive reinforcement (the carrot) - this is the best way to ensure the behaviour will be repeated
- Punishment (the stick) – this can have an immediate effect but it may not last
- Extinction (getting left behind) – this achieves change through recognition that the person has no choice
- Avoidance learning (bad things happen) – here the person learns that the consequences of not changing are outweighed by the need to change
