Managing People: Theory X vs Theory Y Managers

There are two theories, Theory X and Theory Y, that were made famous by Douglas McGregor. These theories deal with motivation of workers. One touches on the workers who aren't very ambitious to start with and require more control over to ensure their tasks are done, these are the Theory X folks.

Theory Y, on the other hand functions individuals who are dedicated to their function and appreciate the tasks they are assigned. They are considered much more responsible towards achieving their targets and also offer hard function to preserve quality of their goods.

Disinterested and lazy workers in a company or organization can prove to be a lot of trouble. Consequently, the consumer or end user will dislike the delivery of products or services, and the company has to suffer huge losses because of the poor quality of workforce it has. Understanding and valuing its workers are the responsibility of the company so that all of the workers can feel more confident.

A sound analogy of worker-employer relationship according to Theory Y can be that of a family members in which a kid is taken care of by his/her parents. Such a manager would create fantastic bonding with the workers and make sure the team works as a unit.

According to McGregor, if a manager believes within the philosophy of Theory X, he wouldn't be too wise and wouldn't cherish the function done by the employees. He would practice extreme measures like firing an employee in response to irresponsible work done.

A company abiding by the Theory X would not offer adequate coaching and introduction to its new employees. It will simply ask them to start operating correct from day 1 and will load them with huge assignments and sharp deadlines. Ultimately, they choose up the top performers and kick out the underperformers. The Apprentice, a reality show was carved out from such a philosophy.

Many employees working under managers that subscribe to Theory Y, find that it can be a much more enjoyable environment to work in. The lower stress levels lead to better results and eventually greater profits for the company.

A manager should, ideally, treat new hires equally and also consider their perspective of going about with company. This can assist the business tremendously as new hires bring fresh ideas and techniques of smart work. This may not just benefit the company's interest, but also motivate the workers by boosting their confidence as their say is valued.

Motivation can be described as the drive behind a person's readiness to complete a given task. Each person’s motivation may vary and is usually their aim to achieving a particular end result. An example of this type of motivation can be found in our daily lives where we are motivated to go to work for the simple fact that we need the money that will be earned to buy food.