Behavioral management offers a simple premise. Effective leadership begins with a deeper understanding of what motivates employees to reach their goals and contribute to an organization’s mission. Once managers recognize what drives their staff’s behavior, they can implement strategies to improve workplace outcomes.
Students in Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Management program delve deeper into the psychology behind employee performance. The Behavioral Management course, alongside other coursework, prepares graduates to step into leadership roles armed with potential interventions for both struggling and high-performing staff members.
What Is Behavioral Management?
Behavioral management is an organizational development theory that combines elements of psychology, sociology and anthropology to help leaders understand, respond to and change employee behavior, according to The Business Professor. Sometimes called behavior modification or applied behavior analysis, characteristics of this management approach include asking employees to develop work routines and providing detailed feedback on their performance to ensure they’re on track, according to Business Study Notes.
The management practice is based on various theories, including Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Hugo Münsterberg’s studies on industrial psychology. Maslow’s needs hierarchy theory proposes assumptions about human nature, including the idea that human beings cannot be satisfied completely.
Despite that, humans will always strive to satisfy those needs and focus on survival before focusing on other needs, such as social or self-fulfillment. Business Study Notes suggests that managers should familiarize themselves with the hierarchy of needs to understand why some lower-level employees are more motivated by financial incentives and others can set their sights on career advancement and actualizing their long-term goals.
Münsterberg’s research is also crucial to behavioral management. Leaders have a better chance of motivating and retaining staff if they match workers with jobs that complement their personality and skill set, according to Münsterberg’s industrial psychology work. His theory also examined how an employer could change the physical workplace environment to increase productivity and reduce repetitive tasks to reduce fatigue, according to the Business Professor.
What Behavioral Management Looks Like in The Workplace
Leaders with behavioral management strategies use rewards, such as company-wide recognition or extended time off, to encourage positive behavior. If an employee struggles to reach benchmarks or acts out in the workplace, the manager recognizes that negative behavior can only change when the staff member experiences consequences. Employees must recognize that not meeting job expectations could lead to a lower raise, required training or a performance improvement plan.
While negative consequences must be enforced in the workplace, effective managers will focus more on behavioral approaches that respond to worker concerns and use positive reinforcement to encourage productivity, according to BizFluent.
For example, reliable and affordable childcare is a common concern for working parents who want to give their best selves to both their family and career. If a company provides on-site childcare or discounts to nearby facilities, BizFluent argues, employees can better focus on their tasks at work. The strategy plays into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs by allowing staff to focus on their personal goals rather than worrying about their child’s safety or the high financial burden of paying for childcare.
Organizations can also offer flexible scheduling and remote work options to reward employees with greater independence and trust as they rise within the company. Other options include setting up an in-person and virtual suggestion box for employees to privately share concerns and solutions they’ve spotted in the workplace. Responding to these issues with genuine care validates employees and makes them more likely to increase their productivity, according to BizFluent.
Learn Successful Management Practices at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Instructors in Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online MBA with a Concentration in Management program will lead students through courses exploring scientific and theoretical ideas explaining human emotions and motivation in the workplace. Upon completion of the program, emerging business leaders will have a toolkit of strategies for improving staff performance and inspiring staff to overcome obstacles.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online MBA with a Concentration in Management program.