We recently watched a television show in which someone was assigned to lead a team. The team was very successful in meeting their objective, yet the person who led them through the exercise was less than enthusiastic. Though the leader contributed greatly to the team’s success, he failed to see his role in it. He failed to see himself as a leader.

Seeing this led me to think about why people lead. In the list I think of, there are some negative and positive reasons:

• An assignment.
• Desire to control and/or do not wish to follow.
• Potential financial returns.
• No one else steps up.
• Want the title/power/prestige perceived to go with it.
• Potential negative consequences for failure.
• Someone saw potential and encouraged it.
• Desire to develop new abilities.
• To learn.
• Help others grow.
• A way to serve others.
• The joy of leading a team to an accomplishment.
• To gain/maximize influence and impact.
• Enjoyment of strategy, long-term planning.
• Ability to create a shared vision and direction.

These are just a few that I have seen over the years. I’ll bet you can add many more to the list (please do).

Once, when I moved into a statewide leadership position, my supervisor said, “Well, you left the best job there was in our organization. But welcome to administration.” For a moment I wondered to myself, “Why am I here?” And also, “Why is my supervisor here if he sees it that way?”

Over time, I found the new role to be just as rewarding, yet in different ways. There was an opportunity to make a positive difference for many more people across Tennessee. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it, though, had I not been able to close my eyes and see the many faces I had served over the years through our programs. They were my “why.” All of my co-workers statewide also became part of the “why.”

Just as Simon Sinek says to “start with WHY,” it is important for anyone in a leadership role to know their “why.” If the motivation is not an altruistic one, it shows in the person’s leadership.

What’s your “why” when you think about the reasons you L.E.A.D.?