What are the motivations and objectives of entrepreneurs? Are there good and bad motivations? WikiCréa tells you all about the different forms of entrepreneurial motivation.
This article was written by Explorys , WikiCréa partner incubator.
Motivation refers to everything that can push a person to carry out certain actions and to persist until they reach their short, medium or long-term goals . The concept of motivation is also associated with will and interestt the source of motivation, we find the needs of the individual , which can be of various kinds:
- "primary" needs related to HAVING : need to earn a living, need to have stable income for example,
- “secondary” needs related to BEING : need to belong, need for esteem, or even need for self-realization.
Motivation translates into making efforts to achieve the objectives set. It is an energy reserve.
More specifically, motivation brings together 4 fundamental elements:
- one or more motivational triggers (needs),
- a direction (a goal to reach),
- an intensity (of the efforts necessary to reach the goal),
- persistence of behavior (continuity of effort).
Let's see what are the motivations of business creators.
The 4 main motiva Itions of entrepreneurs.
Deciding to create a business is an important act, which requires great motivation and a lot of energy.
Various studies have been conducted which show the existence of four major motivation levers among entrepreneurs. Here they are.
1) Self-realization.
The need for achievement is at the heart of business creation. This form of motivation translates for the entrepreneur into a desire to progress towards his ideal, but also a need to know himself better. The entrepreneurial adventure is then transformed into a real tool for personal development. The entrepreneur sets goals (doing what he likes, having the life he wants, exercising his profession according to his values, etc.) and is particularly attentive to the results he can obtain. He tries to improve or even surpass himself to achieve his personal goal.
This type of entrepreneurial motivation can lead to success if the business creator succeeds in developing an objective view of his qualities and his faults , and if he really wants to progress in relation to himself anmm
2) Ambition.
Ambition is linked to the need for self-realization, but goes far beyond that. Here the business creator likes to embark on difficult projects, and tries to meet challenges. He clearly wants to fight it out and does everything possible to achieve his goals.
However, two types of ambition must be distinguished:
- positive ambition: it is underpinned by honest, avowable, shared objectives, for example the launch of a new concept or an innovation. To succeed in his challenge, the entrepreneur will naturally question himself during difficult times.
- negative ambition: it is underpinned by objectives that are often unmentionable because they are linked to the ego, for example the desire to dominate others (see next point).
“ A man's true greatness is not measured when he is comfortable, but when he goes through a period of controversy and challenge. » Martin Luther King
3) Power and control.
Dominated by their psychology, some entrepreneurs wish above all to direct and influence those around them, which then constitutes their main source of motivation. These business leaders feel the need to organize and coordinate the actions of others. They find pleasure in mobilizing resources and moving them around according to their personal needs or desires. Very self-oriented, these entrepreneurs like to arouse admiration and acquire social status. Their mode of management is often authoritarian.
4) Autonomy and freedom.
Many entrepreneurs are looking for autonomy, wishing first and foremost to become “their own boss”. Their entrepreneurial motivation is therefore freedom of action , a value which depends on their own nature but which can sometimes develop in reaction to a difficult professional experience. These entrepreneurs want to make their own choices, set their own rules and constraints, in short enjoy a large degree of decision-making autonomy.
“The will finds, freedom chooses. » Victor Hugo
It should be noted that the motivational levers presented above are intrinsic, ie they do not depend on the context of the entrepreneur. Indeed, extrinsic motivations (depending on the context) are not sufficient to explain long-term motivations.