What does it really mean to be driven?
Over the next few weeks I am going to explore what it means to be driven. I have spent much of my life and career around very driven people and for the most part have considered drive to be a positive trait – you can rely on driven people if you want to get something done. They are the first in and last to leave, they put their hands up when a volunteer is needed and often challenge others to do the same. In the sporting world they train hard, listen to the coach and do everything the physio suggests when they’re injured. They focus on their development and always strive to do the best they possibly can.
I had a discussion recently where the link between drive and anxiety was raised. The discussion made me take stock. In my experience, many people manage the affects of anxiety with a disciplined focus, often using exercise, or punishing schedules to keep their anxiety at bay. One of the key elements of the question – “what does it really mean to be driven?” – is the relationship between anxiety and drive. Is a life led with high levels of drive at the root of anxiety? Is it possible to achieve a healthy balance, where the positive aspects of drive are harnessed, but the negative impacts kept at bay?
Drive is certainly the biggest contributor to high performance, is it also the biggest contributor to burnout?
Over the past few months I have been researching what drive really means, to understand more and question my assumptions. In this week’s blog I am going to start with the definition of drive, what the research is telling us, and start to explore some of the manifestations of drive – for individuals and organisations.
In the second blog I will look at these manifestations in more detail and explore examples where drive has enabled people to excel, and also look at the impacts when it becomes the overriding, dominant personality trait.
The third blog of the series will consider the role of professionals in understanding drive, and supporting individuals to achieve success, whilst minimising the potential risks.
Let’s start at the beginning, looking for a clear definition of drive. The basic dictionary definition is “propelled or motivated by something”. Dig a little deeper and you find a broader definition “determined to achieve something or be successful. All of their behaviour is directed towards success”.
We often think that a driven person naturally has more success, but it's not a magic lamp. It's cause-and-effect. Driven people are generally more successful because they set high goals, don’t give up and make sacrifices to ensure that their job gets done on time, or ahead of schedule, and meets or exceeds expectations.
Whichever definition you prefer, driven individuals demonstrate a consistent set of personality traits. They are passionate, focused on learning and competitive. They are also doers – passion and learning alone give us the dreamers and spectators, hard work is needed to bring success. When hiring new recruits, drive is an attractive, and often essential ingredient, and can be broken down into five components:
Disciplined – intense focus on the job in hand
Resourceful – finds a way to succeed no matter what the obstacle
Ingenious – thinks differently, innovative
Voracious – motivated, competitive and won’t quit until achievement is attained
Entrepreneurial – has vision, gets excited, dedicated work ethics
(Chris Lott, “What does it mean to be driven?” lottspace.com)
In a Psychology Today article, Mary C. Lamia said, “being successful provides rewards, and the stimulation intrinsic to being driven can result in the self-perpetuating nature of such behaviour.” She went on to state that the “financial, personal or social gains from success, as well as the addiction to the high of your own drive, may only be a small part of why you are driven to achieve. Apprehension about failing and attempts to avoid failure, can further drive the pursuit of success”. In addition to the traits described above, Mary’s article starts to uncover some additional traits that can be present in people with high levels of drive, including: impatience, perfectionism, competitiveness, an increased focus on measurable successes, e.g. exam grades or promotions and a low tolerance for anybody less competent than themselves.
We are all born with a natural curiosity, a drive to learn and explore. As we develop, the implication of internal and external pressures becomes important when we think about drive. External pressures can be ‘implanted’ at an early age, through an individuals environment, e.g. a parent, teacher or coach, or through social expectations via social media. If this is coupled with internal pressures from the innate personality traits outlined above, e.g. perfectionism and competitiveness; a fear of failure or a need to please can emerge. This can tip the balance and anxiety can start to take hold.
There are numerous high profile examples where imbalance has occurred in highly driven individuals, including Christie Wellington and Kelly Holmes in the world of sport; CEO of Lloyds Bank, António Horta-Osório, and Robin Williams in the world of entertainment. All of these individuals were driven to set very high goals and to work exceptionally hard to achieve them, with no room for failure. They all suffered as a result of the imbalance between their drive for success and the level of self-care.
There is no doubt that excellence is achieved through drive, whatever the sector. In the business world, the changing nature of work will increase the need for people to be self-motivated and driven. Is an understanding of the pressures impacting an individual’s drive the key to building resilience and avoiding anxiety, burnout and self-harm?
If we add the pursuit of fulfilment and happiness as a counterbalance to drive, are the results and successes even better? Or does this pursuit of balance lead to a lack of focus on excellence?
In the next blog I am going to look in more detail at the manifestations of drive and explore the experiences of these high profile individuals, asking again – is it possible to achieve a healthy balance, where the positive aspects of drive are harnessed, but the negative impacts kept at bay?