Leadership: McClelland’s traits of theories of Achievement Motivation Theory and Leader Motive Profile Theory

Achievement Motivation Theory

David McClelland developed Achievement Motivation Theory that stated; people have needs i.e. need for achievement, power, and affiliation; and that person’s needs influence the behaviour and performance of a person and unconsciously motivates us to fulfil that particular needs. Not everyone will have all of the needs, but one of the above three needs tends to be dominant in each one of us and motivates our behaviour. The needs as follows:

· The Need for Achievement (n-Ach) - Is the unconscious concern for excellence in accomplishments through individual efforts. People with strong n Ach tend to have:

o Internal locus of control, self-confidence, and high energy traits.

o Willing to take personal responsibility for solving problems.

o Goal oriented and set moderate, realistic, attainable goals.

· The Need for Power (n-Pow) - Is the unconscious concern for influencing others and very autocratic. People with strong n Pow tend to have:

o Dominance trait, self-confident with high energy.

o Wanting to control the situation, wanting influence or control over others

o Seeking positions of authority and status.

o Ambitious and have a lower need for affiliation.

· The Need for Affiliation (n-Aff) - Is the unconscious concern for developing, maintaining, and restoring close personal relationships. People with strong n Aff have:

o Trait of sensitivity to others

o Enjoying social activities, friendly and care for relationships.

They tend to avoid management because they like to be one of the group member rather than its leader.

The Leader Motive Profile (LMP)

LMP is the predictor to determine the effectiveness of a leader by applying the Achievement Motivation Theories, i.e. a person’s need for achievement, power, and affiliation. Using LMP, McClelland found that effective leaders consistently have the same motive profile which is high need for power, greater than the need for affiliation and with a moderate need for achievement (normally achievement score is between the power and affiliation score). McClelland further identified power as neither good nor bad where it can be used for personal gain at the expense of others (personalized power), or it can be used to help oneself and others (socialized power).