Why people want to become a leader? Motivation to Lead

Dr.S.Sundararajan, Associate Professor-MBA, SIMS

New Leadership roles in an organization are obviously pivotal to the successful and smooth functioning of the organization in terms of both tactical issues and strategic perspectives. Activities range from chalking out the business strategies, coordinating with various stakeholders, motivating the top management team and the entire workforce, to ensure that the organisational goals are met and that the business is headed towards the desired direction, without any exaggeration it can be said that heading a large organization is extremely difficult and demanding, for example in terms of your private life.

Affective-identity Motivation to lead: This form of motivation is seen when an individual is driven by a desire to lead or be in charge of others. The individual derives a sense of happiness and satisfaction from the act of leading others.

Calculative Motivation to lead: Human beings are considered rational, and thus make decisions after assessing the costs and benefits of the expected results. The benefits associated with are the special privileges, rewards and recognition: the cost includes responsibilities, time constraints, social pressure, etc.

Social-Normative Motivation to lead: This form of motivation is derived from a sense of responsibility or duty to lead others. The individual may assume the leadership role when nominated or called upon by a group or community to lead them. This social pressure motivates the individual to lead.

Every human being wants to get appraised but his thrust areas are different from common personalities and his attitudes are outstanding from others, this motivates him to face the challenging situations ahead. Individuals struggle hard to overcome the obstacles to reform themselves as a leader, to enjoy the feeling of Achievement. The sense of Achievement, pride of self-satisfaction and Esteem of self-reliance push the individual to perform as a successful leader.

There are several motives for taking the action to hold a leader appointment. The drivers of leadership are:

• Command and control others – Being in such a position may not give them happiness or satisfaction as there may always be a hunger for more- A Power drive.
• Achieve results – This drive may be for particular outcomes, whether a product-service delivery or an improving of systems or people performance. It may have a short term or long term focus – A Goal achievement drive.
• Fill a leadership within a team. They see that leadership competence is missing within the situation and are motivated to fill the vacancy so as to achieve the team’s purpose. It is  a Personal drive to accomplish a targeted result.
• For Remuneration and status that go with the role, enabling a particular life-style-A Social status drive

Leadership has many levels and many faces,  they are either true to the teams and take accountability for the outcomes or they blame others for your lack of leadership capability.