MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - EPISODE 295
6th January 2025
Performance = ability * attitude * motivation
Employee performance is a function of three elements – ability, attitude & motivation.
Ability is the physical, intellectual or emotional capability of your employee to get the job done. Is your employee even able to do what is required in the job?
Motivation however has to do with desire and commitment. Does the employee WANT to do the job at the level and competence that is required?
Valmiki captured this concept very nicely with the help of three slokas in Valmiki Ramayan,
यो हि भृत्यो नियुक्तः सन् भर्त्रा कर्मणि दुष्करे ||
कुर्यात्तदुनुरागेण तमहुः पुरुषोत्तमम् | Valmiki Ramayan 6-1-7
The servant who performs a difficult task entrusted by the master with zeal is said to be a superior person."
यो नियुक्तः परम् कार्यम् न कुर्यान्नऋपतेः प्रियम् ||
भृत्यो युक्तः समर्थश्च तमाहुर्मध्यम् नरम् | Valmiki Ramayan 6-1-8
"One who is ready and capable but who yet does no more than his master extracts from him is called a mediocre person."
नियुक्तो नृपतेः कार्यम् न कुर्याद्यः समाहितः ||
भृत्यो युक्तः समर्थश्च तमाहुः पुरुष्धमम् | Valmiki Ramayan 6-1-9
“One who is well and able and yet does not carry out the instructions of his master as directed is said to be the least of men ."
Valmiki introduced 3 different categories of people through these 3 slokas,
Purushaadhamam – Lowest of men – High in Capability but Low in Attitude
Madhyamam naram – Mediocre – High in Capability, Attitude OK but Low in Motivation
Purushauthamam – Superior person – High in Capability, High in Attitude & High in Motivation
One need to assess both capability and motivation when trying to get at the root cause of a performance problem. Someone who is highly motivated but at a reduced level of ability can often achieve above-average performance. Unfortunately, the opposite is not always true. But don’t be fooled into thinking that motivation can overcome ANY lack of ability – the two are still necessary requirements for exceptional (or even adequate) employee performance. In my experience, you can operate tolerably at 50?ility, but anything less than 75% motivation will get you nowhere.
#SkillWillMatrix
Skill Will Matrix helps to analyse people on their capabilities and motivation and suggest techniques for people based on where they stand on capability and motivation. Skill Will Matrix was made popular by Max Landsberg in his best-selling book #TheTaoOfCoaching.
Title diagram relates to where your team members are with respect to skill development and motivation. Identifying this as a first step will then lead you towards the most appropriate management style to use based on where the employee stands with respect to Capability and Motivation. Let us analyse each one of the four quadrants shown in the diagram.
The Direct Quadrant (Ability – Low, Motivation – Low).
Here your employee lacks both skill and will. Employees in this quadrant need appropriate developmental training followed by encouragement and motivation. Monitoring and feedback are important here.
The Guide Quadrant (Motivation – High, Ability – Low)
This is what we ‘hope’ from new hires or people getting promoted to new roles and shifted new responsibilities. They are super keen yet haven’t quite mastered the necessary skills to deliver the results.
This is all about developing their capability. You will be surprised at how quickly these team members end up delivering provided the right support and guidance given.
The Delegate Quadrant (Both Ability and Motivation – High)
This is every manager’s dream team member. Highly motivated and skilled, Hanumans of every manager, superior people.
Excite Quadrant (Ability – High, Motivation – Low)
Why would someone with good ability for the job not have motivation? Difficult to explain but managers face such people regularly in their career.
A common phrase used to describe what this individual is going through centres around a lack of ‘mojo’ or energy and enthusiasm for the role they are performing. Mediocre people as defined by Valmiki.