From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

Smart Leaders and Self-Interest

The motivation of leaders depends on whether they operate predominantly from the blue or the red zone.

Leaders in the red zone tend to be driven by the strong desire to achieve fame and success in life. Adventurous by nature, they eschew routine projects and find greater motivation in challenging initiatives. They seem to value external validation more than inner satisfaction and tend to measure their happiness by tangible indicators of success: a big bank account, a large house, and perhaps media recognition. They could easily lose their motivation when they are not properly rewarded or recognized for their efforts. As a result, their energy level is highly variable: they feel elated when they are at the top of ...