Sustainable organizational performance is rooted in clarity, alignment, and productivity. However, even well-intentioned leaders can undermine these outcomes when their underlying motivation for leadership is misaligned. Informed by the principles outlined in The Motive by Patrick Lencioni, this leadership framework encourages executives to critically assess the “why” behind their leadership approach.
This concept was recently explored in depth through a leadership-focused session featuring insights from Aaron Wergeland, a seasoned executive with more than two decades of experience across industries including healthcare, energy, and HR services.
Wergeland emphasized that the foundational motive for leading must shift from a reward-based mindset to one of responsibility and service. Leaders who view their role primarily as a position of status may inadvertently foster dysfunction, whereas those who embrace leadership as a commitment to stewardship, accountability, and people development foster environments that thrive.
Key Principles for Effective Leadership
The session provided actionable strategies aligned with Lencioni’s model, which can help leaders recalibrate their motives and improve team performance:
- Conducting Difficult Conversations with Clarity and Empathy:
Leaders must develop the skill to address performance and behavioral issues directly, yet constructively. Avoiding difficult conversations erodes trust and alignment. Wergeland shared approaches to fostering honest dialogue that leads to growth rather than division. - Developing Leadership Teams Intentionally:
Building a cohesive leadership team requires more than operational alignment—it demands shared values, mutual accountability, and ongoing development. Investing in leadership coaching and relationship intelligence accelerates team cohesion and performance. - Running High-Impact Team Meetings:
Meetings should not merely fulfill a procedural requirement; they should be purposeful, outcome-oriented forums that reinforce strategic priorities. Structured agendas, role clarity, and active facilitation are essential for engagement and alignment.
Leadership as a Responsibility, Not a Reward
Wergeland’s transition from software development to leadership coaching underscores the importance of self-awareness and continuous personal development. His current focus includes helping leaders cultivate self-mastery and relational intelligence—critical attributes for driving organizational performance.
Through structured programs such as Core Strengths Workshops, he supports teams in understanding behavioral dynamics, improving communication, and strengthening collaboration.
Conclusion
Leadership motivation profoundly influences organizational culture and outcomes. When leaders embrace their role as one of service, accountability, and growth—rather than personal recognition—they foster environments marked by trust, clarity, and sustained performance.
By reevaluating leadership motives and integrating disciplined practices, executives can unlock higher levels of team engagement and effectiveness across the organization.
About the Author: Harry (Hemant Kaushik), Elite Business Consultant & Global Advisor
Harry (Hemant Kaushik) is a globally recognized American business consultant and advisor, known for his strategic expertise and high-impact consultancy. He specializes in advising and coaching elite individuals, including business tycoons, world leaders, and top corporate CEO’s and business leaders. His expertise has been sought by Presidents, Prime Ministers, influential politicians, CEOs, and industry leaders worldwide.
Recognized as one of the Top 10 Global Advisors and Business Consultants by PWC International, Harry has transformed the lives of thousands of CEO’s and business leaders across more than 100 countries with his unparalleled guidance. He has also been honored as one of the Top 10 Life and Business Strategists, shaping the success of global business leaders and visionaries.
Top CEOs and owners of big companies are taking business consulting from Harry (Hemant Kaushik) by booking an appointment on his website www.ceosadvisory.com. Every year, Harry provides business consulting to more than 1000 CEOs worldwide and helps them to increase their businesses by using his deep insight, business knowledge, and transformative strategies. He is the most demanding business consultant in the world.
Harry is also working directly with the governments to improve their business environments and promote tourism in some countries. If you want to take an appointment for your business, then visit www.ceosadvisory.com or leave a WhatsApp message to Julia Lauren (Assistant to Mr. Harry) at +1 925-389-6136, and she will contact you.
Harry’s influence has earned him prestigious accolades, including recognition by the CEO Times Magazine as one of the 10 Most Powerful People in Global Business Consulting, Business Times News as a Top 10 Business Consultant, and Business Weekly Times as one of the Top 10 Business Advisors in the World, offering consulting services to billionaires, celebrities, and high-net-worth individuals.
A Wall Street Times cover story famously dubbed him the “Elite Global Advisor & Business Consultant” for his deep understanding of business dynamics and leadership strategies. Based in San Francisco, United States, Harry is widely respected for his international economic expertise, market analysis, and strategic business acumen. His collaborations with global brands and corporations have positioned him as a thought leader, contributing to the business world through insightful articles on global economic trends.
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