What Motivates People to Become Leaders?

Do they want to make more leaders or just gather more followers? Many individuals want to be leaders because they dream of a big paycheck, a fancy title, or being part of an elite group. But real leaders aren’t just in it for the status—they genuinely want to help others and do good work. Finding good leaders among your team can be difficult. Sometimes the people who want to be leaders are not the best fit, and those who do not want the role might actually be great at it.

Sometimes TV and movies make us think leaders have to be super charismatic and exceptionally smart. This can make staff doubt if they are cut out for leadership. But the truth is, you do not need to be a superhero to be a good leader.

We have all had bad bosses before (sometimes more than one). But when we think about becoming leaders ourselves, we often compare ourselves to the leaders we see around us, not necessarily the best ones. If organizations talk openly about what makes a good leader, they will have an easier time finding the right people for the job.

To find motivated leaders, you need to look beyond someone’s self-image. You have to consider their biases, skills, and how they actually perform. Sometimes people think they are ready to lead until they are faced with a tough situation and quickly realize they are not ready.

Leadership should be part of the company culture. This attracts the kind of leaders who can bring about real change and make both the team and the company successful.

What motivated you to become a leader?