Final answer:
Motivation is enhanced when employees are given feedback on their progress towards difficult and specific goals. Feedback aligns with the effort-reward relationship and increases reinforcement, while also supporting the personal belief in one's capabilities to achieve these goals and stay motivated.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to goal-setting theory, motivation is enhanced when employees accept and are committed to specific, difficult goals and when they are given feedback regarding progress toward those goals. Feedback serves as a form of reinforcement and allows employees to adjust their efforts as needed. It aligns with the motivational principle that effort should correlate with the rewards received from work activities, which in turn increases reinforcement and commitment to the goals.
Furthermore, motivation stems from an individual's belief in their own capabilities or self-efficacy, and the social motives including the need for achievement, affiliation, and intimacy. Additionally, while expectations of extrinsic rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation for a task, unexpected extrinsic rewards can maintain the intrinsic motivation. Setting specific and challenging goals, combined with measurable criteria and motivational feedback, encourages individuals to reach higher levels of performance and remain motivated through ups and downs in their careers.