Developing Leadership Abilities

The Involvement Factor

Newcomers to companies may typically be more driven by money because they have built few social bonds at the company, have little ego involvement with long-term projects or planning, and have slight personal identification with the fate of the company.

But as the months of employment turn into years, the involvement factor begins to grow as a motivator. Old-timers do work in part for the pay, of course, but there are also at play the many coworker relations, interesting tasks, respect from superiors and subordinates, and that “settled-in” feeling for the workplace as a surrogate home. (To make this point in an extreme way, consider the owners, leaders, and managers who have made their fortunes and could retire in luxury ...