The Four Great Human Needs

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Date: 01/10/2010

If you want to keep your best people, understand their human needs and supply them in the workplace.

To keep your best people, says marketing guru Tony Gattari of Achievers Group, you must understand the human needs that are part of our make-up and try to deliver them in the workplace. If you can, you'll have a workforce which is more productive, happier, more energetic and produces better results for your bottom line.

What are they? Security is the first on his list, often exemplified by the pay packet, though there are other measures like job descriptions and regular training. But people also need variety in their working lives, providing the stimulation that stops them becoming bored. Significance is number three: perhaps something as simple as a designated parking space or a job title, but contributing to self-esteem.

Then there's connection: people want to feel they're part of a team that extends beyond the workplace; their partners will value that connection too. If you can achieve all those things, there are two more stages to consider: growth, by expanding their horizons to take on new challenges, and legacy -- how can they make a difference, in their own lives or by contributing to the wider community?