The Motivations That Drive Me

I may think I have found my purpose, but whether it is a life-enhancing purpose or perhaps a destructive one, and whether I then successfully live it, depends upon the motivations that drive my choices and actions. Haier’s RenDanHeyi “Three Self Model” includes “self-motivation,” and thus working or leading with a positive motivation is important to following the model. Human beings and organizations are energy systems. Our motivations determine how this energy flows through the system and how it is channeled. When we have negative motivations (such as fear, greed, anger, and self-importance (“ego”), this system energy flow gets blocked and distorted, with damaging or destructive consequences. Studies show that 94% of employees and/or leaders in traditional, Newtonian organizations operate from these negative motivations. When they are driven by more positive motivations (exploration/curiosity, cooperation, self-mastery, creativity, and service), both employees and their organizations thrive, as will be illustrated by later discussions of Haier & Roche India. This part of the chapter presents a scale of motivations that outlines 8 negative motivations and 8 positive ones. Reflective exercises are offered to help the reader recognize the motivations from which he or she is acting, and then suggestions are made for how to move from a negative motivation to a more positive one.