Page 106 - How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win

WHERE AM I GOING? (PURPOSE AND MOTIVATION)

In contrast, Chariots of Fire is a movie about British ath-
letes in the 1924 Olympic games, all motivated to excel at
their sports. One of the athletes is discouraged from com-
peting by his sister because she sees no value in sports and
believes his destiny is to be a Christian missionary in China.
He responds, “I believe God made me for a purpose—for
China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his
pleasure.” People motivated by achievement love to accom-
plish for the sake of accomplishment. Corporations in which
achievement takes abundant forms are among the most suc-
cessful and admired of companies.
People motivated by achievement might find meaning in
simply getting things done and in winning. They generally
enjoy improving and may strongly identify with their skills
and accomplishments. Thus they like setting and meet-
ing goals, getting feedback and having clear scorecards for
measuring success, and being recognized for their accom-
plishments. They want measurable action plans that track
results. In this category failure is an impetus for learning and
there is always room to improve. These folks know instinc-
tively that unless the organization provides real value and
succeeds economically it simply won’t survive.
In an organizational setting, individuals highly motivated
by achievement are generally hardworking and internally
motivated. They often provide energy and drive to get the
job done. They may flourish in competitive environments
but are not necessarily trying to best others as much as solve
problems and improve their own performance. Whether they
are the rough carpenters who love getting the framework in
quickly or fine craftsmen who relish detail work and fine fin-
ishes, people motivated by achievement take satisfaction in

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