Wise Leaders Are Driven to Serve Others

While smart leaders can be self-centered—driven by either the basic need for safety and security (blue zone) or the desire for fame and money (red zone), wise leaders are other-centered: they are purposefully driven to mainly serve others.

Wise leaders are not motivated by personal wealth, recognition, and success, though they are comfortable with them. So what really motivates them? They derive a great deal of satisfaction from serving their noble purpose, which often has a strong ethical basis. Intrinsically motivated, they can exercise great self-discipline in staying with an issue and resolving it without seeking any external reward or recognition. Even when asked to lead a routine project, they can ...

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