Maslow’s hierarchy of needs…and a very personal application

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Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the best-known theories of motivation. Maslow’s theory states that our actions are motivated by certain physiological and psychological needs that progress from basic to complex.

The Weekly Focus is something that I have been writing now for over three years and delivered to your inbox on a weekly basis. Helping to mentor, coach, develop & inspire, is very much what we do at Solution Focused, and outside of the business, it’s also how I work with a group of hugely talented athletes in Kenya…let’s look and compare the links to Maslow.

Physiological needs…the money that I send to my athletes allows them to have a roof over their heads and to buy food…taking away stress from their lives, meaning that they can train in a far improved state of mind.
Safety Needs…security of body and health, in part following on from physiological needs. The foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
Belonging…Love and friendship…training to high standards is difficult on your own…a team of six, that trains together, works hard together, and shares experiences together will always beat someone on their own…the power of a team, all pulling together and with one focus.
Esteem…achieving success, creating personal bests, seeing the hard work of training deliver results…confidence growing which then allows for still better performances…belief systems kicking in.
Self-actualisation…Seeing results achieved…delivering on the athlete’s potential. For me and my group of athletes this is the final stage in delivering against the plan…” Developing talent and inspiring lives” …once at this stage, my work is done, and my athletes move to one of my colleagues’ groups…ready to race in major competition and become champions.

Check the steps and your teams, and work out if your leadership and culture allows for your people to work through the triangle…are you creating all of the stages to make sure that you are developing your people to achieve success within the business…if not, why not…and what will success look like?

True Leaders and coaches know how to develop their people, to ensure that their personal needs are met, and in such a way, that you continue to develop a talent pool which will incrementally develop improved performance and results.

“If you deliberately plan to be less than you are capable of being, I warn you that you will be deeply unhappy for the rest of your days”
Abraham Maslow