What motivates you?  It maybe a corner office, wealth, influencing others, or to reach a level others have failed to accomplish.  Motivation is NOT a behavior, however, it strongly influences our behaviors.  I would define motivation as the psychological source of personal energy that drives you to succeed.  There are many types of social motives, however, three of the underlying social motives are: achievement, affiliation, and influence.

The need for achievement can be described as a way to do something quicker, better, easier or simply more efficient.  The thought pattern of achievement motivated people may include: out-performing someone else, meeting or exceeding self-imposed standards, striving for unique accomplishments, and thinking about long-term career connections.  When I think of achievement I am driven to succeed by self-imposed standards I have set for myself.  Recognizing your driving force to achieve will allow you to control the force that ignites your fire.  Just remember to not cut corners when striving for your goals and avoid becoming an ineffective manager by only worrying about the results. 

What motivates you to affiliate?  The core concern behind affiliation is establishing, maintaining, or repairing relationships.  Two types of affiliation exist; you may have a genuine interest in others or you may just want to belong.  I enjoy networking, engaging in conversation, and  maintaining relationships.  If affiliation motivates you, you may also be concerned with  disruption of relationships and also characterize group activities as social or friendly.

What drives you to influence?  The goal underlying influence motivation is a concern with having impact, with reputation and influence.  Influence motivation is also called power motivation.  When individuals combine their ability to achieve with the ability to influence you will see a leader born.  Whether the drive to influence is for personal or social gain people like having a leader.  Having the ability to not only achieve but influence will create followers and in turn increase your ability to influence.   

I would love to hear what motivates you.  Are you driven to achieve, affiliate, and influence?

CRUX: Determine what motivates you whether it is achievement, affiliation, or influence.  Understanding what keeps you going will allow you to flip the switch and ignite your fire.  

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim to high and falling short; but in setting our aim to low, and achieving our mark.” -Michelangelo