Lead Lines

Hail to the Chiefs: The reasons behind becoming a leader

Managers and supervisors serve their employees and make things run more smoothly. The changingminds.org article “Motivation of Leaders” explains a few of the reasons people seek to become leaders.

• Vision. “If they can communicate that vision to others, effectively ‘infecting’ them with the idea, then this will create a sustaining motivational force in others towards a common goal,” the author explains.

• Control. Of all our basic human needs, a sense of control is high priority. This can be attained by either taking charge of oneself or allowing others to take control. Leaders are able to offer a sense of control to others by managing them.

• Power. Defined by the author as the “the ability to achieve your goals,” power is a valuable commodity.

• Narcissism. “Leaders not only seek to connect people with idealistic goals, but they often also seek to instill devotion of themselves by their followers,” the author explains. Managers must be wary of this motivation because narcissists tend to surround themselves with people who agree with everything they say, regardless of its truth.

• Altruism. Some leaders desire to help others make a difference in the world.

No matter what the motivation, managers and supervisors are significantly affected by what drove them to become leaders in the first place. Do you hold a position of power at your company? What made you reach for that position? How does it affect your every day relationship with your work and your employees? I'd love to hear your thoughts!