When it comes to teaching, teachers are advised on how important motivation is for students. Emphasis is laid on the positives of motivation and what can happen in case a student is de-motivated.
Have we ever considered how important motivation could be for the motivator? Yes, teacher motivation is something that may skip a lot of people’s attention, but it is as essential as motivation for anybody else. One usually thinks of teachers as being super-motivated and automatically charged throughout the day. That is not so. Teachers are just as badly in need of motivation as their students.
Causes for Lack of Motivation in Teachers
There could be any number of reasons that could be responsible for de-motivation in teachers. It could stem from dissatisfaction with their working conditions or policies followed by the organization. The same routine and syllabus taught repeatedly and mechanically could also be taking a toll on them.
Sometimes, teachers get the feeling that they are stuck in a rut and there is no scope for progression. This can also lead to de-motivation. Apart from this, there can also be problems on the personal front that could cause them to lose interest in their job.
Consequences of Lack of Teacher Motivation
A de-motivated teacher is a poor teacher. She will not be able to concentrate on her lessons, and her productivity will fall drastically. In all likelihood, she will approach her classes with half-hearted enthusiasm and deliver shoddy work. In many cases, it has been noticed that teachers can vent their frustration on their students, resulting in physical abuse.
How Can the Teachers be Motivated Again?
It’s not as if once lost, teacher motivation can never be recovered again. There are several things that an institution can do to motivate their teachers into delivering high-quality performance again. Some of these are:
o Noon hour lunches for not only the teaching but also the non-teaching staff, organized several times a year in a relaxed and informal environment.
o Annual staff holidays.
o Training programs to introduce them to new methods of teaching
o Bring in as much variety as possible into the teaching routine by rotating the schedule of the teachers
o Start a rewards and recognition program for the best teacher/educator and for people who add more value to their organization.