[November 14, 2013] Successful senior executive leaders are highly motivated and have the inner drive to be the best at what they do. For leaders, ambition1 is a major source of motivation, passion, and inspiration – there is no adequate substitute.
The desire to grow as a leader, to improve, to increase knowledge and qualifications, and to have a positive, significant impact on the leader’s organization, requires a highly ambitious leader.
But there is danger. While ambition is one of the strongest psychological, inner driving forces for good, it can also mean that it drives that leader’s interest only in one’s self – to possess all things, regardless of others.
In such a case, ambition is a character flaw. All leaders must be aware of the dual nature of ambition and use it for the good of the organization; to create a greater sense of purpose. When ambition generates unethical, illegal, or immoral behavior, then integrity and the greater good is sacrificed and the result is destruction for all.
Great leaders are exceptional at what they do because they want to achieve something great, not to be someone great.
Extraordinary ambition is an essential factor in senior leadership. When applied to others (the team, company, organization), it is a positive individual trait. Fortunately, great leaders recognize the dual nature of ambition and must have the humility and moral courage to temper the ego.
“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” – Salvador Dalí, Spanish Painter
Leaders without ambition are stagnant. It would be unheard of for a senior leader to lack ambition, unless a recent development. This being especially unfortunate as the damage such a person could do.
On the other hand, high ambition, when combined with the right technical and operational skills, is a force that will propel both the senior leader and organization to greater heights of success.
For ambition to succeed for the greater good, the leader requires an intense aptitude for self-discipline, creativity, and vision … for the leader and for others.
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[1] Ambition is defined as a desire for success – a strong feeling of wanting to be successful in life and achieve great things, 2. objective or goal – a goal or objective that somebody is trying to achieve; Synonyms: drive, determination, get-up-and-go, motivation, desire, spirit.
[2] A good book on the affect of ambition on senior leaders can be found in Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value by Michael Beer, Flemming Norrgre, and Coauthors.