Power is the Great Motivator

Power is the Great Motivator provides an understanding of what motivates Managers and how it defines their success. The book features case studies and feedback on what they think makes a good manager.

The book states the following qualities among those that make a good manager:

• Helps subordinates feel strong and responsible
• Rewards and recognises good performance
• Ensures that things are organized so that subordinates know what they should be doing
• Foster a strong sense of team spirit

McClelland and Burnham also categorize managers into three separate categories the Affiliative Managers, Personal Power Managers and Institutional Managers. Each have their own strength and weaknesses but according to the authors the most effective manager is the Institutional Manager.

As explained in the book:

“Institutional Managers care more about using power for the benefit of the organization than for their own aggrandizement. As a result, they are the most successful of the three types at creating an effective work environment- one in which employees have a high morale and feel a strong sense of responsibility and organizational clarity. Two additional characteristics of institutional managers: they tend to have a more democratic leadership style, one that emphasizes coaching rather than commanding, and they possess greater emotional maturity than the other types”

Power is the Great Motivator provides great insights on what motivates us as managers. If you can define yourself as a manager in the categories provided, then you would be able to improve your managerial skills for the benefit of the organization and the subordinates that report to you.

For more information on the Harvard Business Review, please click here for my previous post.