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Do you know what really motivates you?

This question has been on my mind lately.

It has encouraged me to explore the inner shadows of even my best-intentioned actions.

Learn to lead yourself and more deeply understand others with the Framework of ‘The 5 Drivers’.

Understanding what drives you and your teams is essential if you lead an organization.

If you are not able to understand your drivers, you will fail to: 

→ understand what drives you,

→ recognize destructive patterns,

→ get above the line in your leadership.

In 1975, the American psychologist Taibi Kahler identified five common drivers that motivate us.

While a powerful motivator, each driver carries its unique blend of strengths and challenges.

To help CEOs and founders understand their drivers, I use Taibi Kahler's Five Drivers to help them understand what drives their performance and leadership.

Framework: The Five Drivers

1. Please Others

Focused on gaining approval, avoiding conflict, and being empathetic.

Positive aspects: 

Excellent in team cohesion and diplomacy.

Challenges: 

Risk of losing self-identity, stress from over-accommodation, inability to deliver criticism.

How to find balance: 

Encourage assertiveness, set healthy boundaries, and foster an environment where diverse opinions are valued.

2. Be Strong 

Emphasizes resilience, independence, and stoicism.

Positive aspects: 

Great in crisis management, self-directed, and inspiring confidence.

Challenges: 

Bottles things up, snaps in private, reluctant to collaborate, lack of vulnerability.

How to find balance: 

Cultivate emotional intelligence, encourage open communication, and show vulnerability as a strength.

3. Hurry Up

Always on the move, focused on efficiency and speed.

Positive aspects: 

Energetic, Excellent in time management and rapid decision-making.

Challenges: 

Potential for burnout, finds it hard to say no, overlooks details.

How to find balance: 

Promote a balanced approach to urgency, prioritize tasks effectively, and emphasize the importance of quality over speed.

4. Try Hard

Focused on persistent effort, often in the face of challenges.

Positive aspects: 

Resilient in adversity, innovative problem-solving, gives 100%, self-motivated.

Challenges: 

Tendency to overcomplicate, unwillingness to ask for help, difficulty prioritizing, and fear of failure.

How to find balance:

Foster a growth mindset, celebrate small wins, and encourage smart work alongside hard work.

5. Be Perfect

Focused on high standards, attention to detail, and striving for perfection.

Positive aspects: 

Quality-driven, reliable, and thorough.

Challenges: 

Paralysis and stress, effective but not efficient, slow and pedantic.

How to find balance: 

Prioritize continuous improvement, set realistic goals, and encourage a healthy balance between perfection and efficiency.

Application

By identifying your drivers, you learn: 

→ to recognize when and how you are driven,

→ to use your drivers constructively,

→ to regulate yourself if what drives you is not useful.

As leaders, understanding these drivers in yourselves and your teams is transformative.

It enables you to harness each driver's strengths while mitigating the challenges. You can create a more dynamic, empathetic, and effective leadership style tailored to the needs of our diverse teams.

Reflect: What is your main driver?

Understanding Taibi Kahler’s 5 Drivers

can help you see right into the heart of others and yourself.

Be sure to accompany this insight with kindness.

We are all human:

beautiful and imperfect.

I’ll see you next week,

Nikolas Konstantin

P.S. Want more…

The Yearly Reflection Space for Leaders: The Wise Leadership Retreat

I've opened applications for my 2024 "Wise Leadership Retreat.“ It will take place 06.- 11. August this year.

What you can expect:

1. A full-day workshop on wise leadership will help you gain clarity on your values and goals.

2. Three days of silent meditation training to widen your awareness and mindfulness.

3. Nourishing meals, sauna, and beautiful surrounding lake and nature.

4. Connecting with like-minded leaders facing similar challenges.

5. Closing workshop to harvest new skills and insights for lasting growth.

Training the Theory and Art of Meditation: A Beautiful Mind Course

Can’t join the silent meditation retreat this year?

If you want to train your mind and understand the theory from science and meditation traditions, this one is for you.

The Online Course includes:

• The Guide to the 3 Styles of Meditation E-Book,

• 4 hours of theory,

• 10 + Meditations

• & Retreat Mode (create your own silent retreat with my retreat recordings)

The Best of Management and Leadership: Founder Playbooks

As a founder coach, I scan the best of leadership literature and mindfulness so my clients can focus on what matters most—building a thriving organization.

Some of that theory makes it into my client’s Founder Playbooks library, featuring the best management and leadership theory. So far, I have made those "Founder Playbooks" only accessible to my coaches. You can have exclusive access here.

A la Carte Executive Training: Executive Coaching

Each year, I support a number of leaders to transform into more resonant versions of themselves - so they can grow with purpose and positively impact the world. Want to be coached by me? Say hello.

Thanks for reading.

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See you next week,
Nikolas