Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs: The Motivation Code

What motivates you?

Is it a big paycheck? Spending more time with your family? A beach house in the sun?

Actually, people’s motivations are far more complex than you might realize - and lie deeper in the subconscious than specific monetary rewards could.

Everyone has their own motivation code. It’s what drives our daily decisions to be successful - or to fail. It’s unique, too: your motivation code will be entirely different to that of your coworkers.

The most successful entrepreneurs can not only identify their own personal motivations, but understand those of their team, too, in order to get the best work from everyone. Understanding your true underlying motivations and strengths improves your ability to choose projects which satisfy your deepest desires - and delegate to your team the tasks which don’t.

According to The Motivation Code, there are six key types of entrepreneurs. Understanding them - and consciously building a team which balances each type - allows you to unlock both your professional potential, and that of your team.

Excerpt from a presentation I delivered on The Motivation Code at CityPlat.

Read on to discover which best describes your working style.

Visionaries

Visionaries think big, always aiming to reach for the stars. That means that these creatively-minded leaders can spot opportunities where others can’t, meaning they are excellent entrepreneurs when it comes to seeing gaps in the market for business and untapped potential in their team. However, this also means that they can often disregard present day priorities and logistics.

Achievers

Results, results, results: Achievers will go to any lengths to get the outcome they want. In fact, the bigger the obstacle, the more motivated this leader will be to tackle it, and more satisfied by the achievement. Achievers should be aware that, because they enjoy taking on tough challenges so much, they can get easily distracted from their long-term goals, in favor of quick, short-term tasks.

Collaborators

Collaborators don’t seek individual glory - they place much more value on being a respected and integral member of the team. Believing that they are not successful unless the whole team is successful, they are loyal to their team - almost to a fault. They can be judgmental of their coworkers who focus on individual wins, and do not like conflict - which means they can avoid necessary conversations in favor of group harmony.

Learners

Preferring to think rather than do, Learners are excellent at conducting thorough research, exploring new ideas and sharing the knowledge they gain with others. This can also mean that their weak spot is in quick daily decision-making, where they can suffer from decision-making paralysis without exploring all possible pathways.

Optimizers

Optimizers love to solve systemic problems, organize processes and find efficient solutions to any area of the business with wasted potential. The downside? They can also be ‘control freaks’, and risk micromanaging their team. This need for control can also lead to them taking on too much - and risking burnout as a result.

Key Contributors

While most people hate public speaking, key contributors thrive on it: they are motivated by being the center of attention. These workers want to be seen and admired, and as such, are strong and persuasive communicators. Likewise, they are driven by feedback and words of appreciation more than a pay bonus - with this need for attention though can come a lack of awareness when it comes to recognizing other people’s achievements.

Understanding which categories you and your team fall into gives you the ability to take your team collaboration and personal business choices to the next level, and truly work to your strengths.

Which do you identify with most? Comment below, let’s share the insights.