Leadership (リーダーシップ) is the influence that acts on members so a group moves toward its goal, drawing out their actions and willingness.
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It refers not to a position or authority itself but to the power of acting on people so they want to move on their own. In PM theory (PM理論), a well-known model, actions aimed at producing results are called the P function (performance function) and actions that keep the team together are called the M function (maintenance function), and a state where both are strong is considered ideal. Another view holds that the strength of direction should change to suit the situation, such as how mature the members are.
AnalogyOn a mountain trail, when a companion who knows the way steps out in front, others naturally follow, even though that person is not the group leader.
How to rememberThe English verb lead means to go first and show the way. Picture someone pulling the group from the front rather than pushing from behind.
Exam points
Mix-upLeadership (リーダーシップ) is the influence that moves people, and even someone without a title can exercise it.
Motivation (モチベーション) is the drive (動機づけ) or willingness that leads a person to take action and keep it up.
Extrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation
Source of drive
Rewards or evaluation given from outside
One's own interest or sense of achievement
Examples
Performance-based bonuses, awards
The fun of learning a new technology
Caution
Drive tends to fall once the stimulus is gone
Hard to supply directly from outside
It is often divided into extrinsic motivation, driven by outside stimuli such as pay, promotion and awards, and intrinsic motivation, which arises from within the person, such as interest in the work or a sense of achievement. A mechanism set up to draw out willingness through rewards and the like is called an incentive (インセンティブ).
AnalogyThink of riding a bicycle: extrinsic motivation is someone pushing you from behind, and intrinsic motivation is you pedaling yourself.
How to rememberMotivation comes from a Latin word meaning to move, so it belongs to the same family as move and motor.
Exam points
ExamAn incentive (インセンティブ) is a mechanism that offers inducements such as rewards or awards to steer people's willingness toward the behavior the organization wants.
Work engagement (ワークエンゲージメント) is the mental state of working with energy while feeling vigor, dedication and absorption in one's job.
Element
Example of the state
Vigor
Rarely tired, and keeps at it even when things get hard
Dedication
Feels pride and meaning in the work
Absorption
Concentrates on the work and loses track of time
It refers not to a temporary surge of willingness but to a lasting, positive state directed at the work as a whole. On the opposite side lies burnout (バーンアウト), a state of exhaustion after one's drive has been used up. Companies use it in their people policies as a measure tied to both employee health and productivity.
AnalogyImagine getting so absorbed in practicing an instrument you love that you look up and the sun has set, and picture that state lasting at work.
How to rememberEngage can mean gears meshing together. Picture a person and the work locked together and turning as one.
Exam points
Mix-upWork engagement (ワークエンゲージメント) is a state of throwing oneself into work positively and of one's own accord. Working because one is driven by an inability to stop is called workaholism (ワーカホリズム), and it is distinguished from engagement.
Motivation vs. Work Engagement
Aspect
Motivation
Work Engagement
Key differenceWhat it expresses
The source of the power to act (what sparks willingness)
The state of one's relationship with work (how one engages)
How it lasts
Rises and falls with stimuli and goals
Lasts across the work as a whole
Ways to raise it
Rewards and evaluation, a sense of meaning
Discretion in the job, chances to grow, support from others
Mental health (メンタルヘルス) means workers' mental well-being, and in the workplace the term also covers efforts to prevent problems and to notice and deal with them early.
Prevent problems (prevention)
Notice early and respond (early detection)
Support those on leave returning to work (return support)
When stress (ストレス) from workload or relationships continues, physical and mental problems can lead to a leave of absence. Out of concern for employee health, companies carry out a stress check (ストレスチェック) that regularly gauges stress levels, set up consultation desks and curb long working hours.
AnalogyJust as regular physical checkups exist to prevent and catch illness early, the idea is to give the mind regular checkups and a place to talk too.
Exam points
Mix-upMental health (メンタルヘルス) efforts target protecting mental well-being itself, which differs from work-life balance (ワークライフバランス), which arranges how time and roles are split between work and private life.
Work-life balance (ワークライフバランス) is the idea of harmonizing work with private life, such as family, child-rearing, caregiving and hobbies, so that both are fulfilling.
It aims not at choosing between work and life but at a way of working that lets people keep up both without strain. Concrete measures include reviewing long working hours, introducing flextime (フレックスタイム制) and telework (テレワーク), and setting up leave systems for child-rearing and caregiving.
AnalogyPicture work and life on the two pans of a scale, with the weights adjusted constantly so neither side tips too far.
Exam points
ExamWork-life balance (ワークライフバランス) concerns how each person divides time between work and life, and its focus differs from diversity (ダイバーシティ), which concerns the variety of people who make up an organization.
Mix-upWork-life balance does not simply mean cutting the amount of work. It aims for fulfillment in both work and life.
How time and roles are split between work and private life
Example measures
Stress checks, consultation desks
Flextime, telework, leave systems
How the effect shows
Preventing and catching problems early, fewer leaves of absence
Balancing private life, easier to keep working
Key points
Leadership is the influence that steers a group toward its goal, and PM theory views it through two functions: acting to achieve goals (P) and acting to hold the group together (M).
Motivation can be divided into extrinsic motivation, from outside stimuli, and intrinsic motivation, which arises from within the person.
Work engagement is a positive mental state that combines vigor, dedication and absorption and lasts across the work as a whole.
Mental health efforts include preventing problems, detecting them early and supporting a return to work, with stress checks and consultation desks as examples.
Work-life balance is the idea of making both work and private life fulfilling, pursued through flexible work arrangements and a review of long working hours.