Ready for a little self-reflection?
If you want to love what you do, it's much easier if you know precisely what you love to do! And if you love leading, or want to enjoy it more, you may find some clues here about how you do that. You may also find some hints for how to motivate others (your subordinates maybe?) to lead more enthusiastically.
I've met lots of people who enjoy leading, in fact they love it and they want more of it. But I believe they all have very different reasons and motivations. Here's a brief list of what motivates me to lead.
1. Enlisting Cooperation
I learned this term when I first did Harrison Assessments and discovered this was my #1 trait: absolutely my favorite thing! It really does thrill me when people follow my lead, especially when I know they are truly cooperating; they are not coerced. They are doing what I want for their own benefit. They agree with me and they share my goals. I feel like a powerful force for good.
2. Power
It's a very strong word. I admit that I am motivated by power when I lead. And why not? I am bringing my will far further than I ever would on my own. As a leader I have real influence and much more ability through the support of a team.
3. Service
Everywhere you look, leaders are needed and wanted. And most people are not willing, ready or able to do it. In volunteer organizations, leaders are constantly sought. The work of one leader can mobilize hundreds of people to take actions that they really want to do, but would not have the ability to do on their own.
In the commercial and political worlds, leaders are highly valued and also scorned. Leaders take risks and often fail publicly due to errors of judgment or personal shortcomings. But leadership takes tremendous effort and commitment. In my view, those who are willing to undertake leadership and to learn and grow as they lead, are providing a service to humanity regardless of their results.
4. Meta Mind
Is that a real word? I believe 'meta mind' means the thinking that exists across many minds. Think of the internet versus just one computer.
To lead effectively, one of the first steps is to create shared goals. By doing so we are creating ideas that exist beyond just one mind and which therefore have the potential to be much better and greater than the thoughts of just one person. To me, this idea is very exciting because it so greatly expands the potential of humankind. Not all leadership uses the potential of the meta-mind but leadership is required to tap into this potential And this idea motivates me to lead, because I want to see what happens. We only have one lifetime to try it out.
Now your turn. What motivates you to lead? Or what motivates you to avoid leadership?!
