ou can address all four POLC functions as a manager, but if you cannot motivate people, you will probably not be successful. Understanding the motivations of employees helps management better plan and execute those plans through motivated workers. Empowered workers are those who are given the power to make decisions, usually within certain parameters, to resolve problems and satisfy customer needs and wants.

Maslow stated that people needed to satisfy one level of need at a time, beginning at the base with physical needs $($here a tree is used; Maslow used a pyramid$).$ After these are satisfied, people will go on to the next level of needs, and so forth. Eventually, when all other needs are satisfied, people will look for self$-$actualization $($at the top of the tree as seen here$)$ to fulfill themselves. Alderfer had a different idea regarding similar levels.

Checklist:

At which level are you? Explain your response. You can refer to either Maslow$$s hierarchy or Alderfer$$s ERG theory.

At what stage of Maslow$$s hierarchy would an empowered employee be$?$ Explain.