Skip navigation

Why future leaders need drive

Drive fuels purpose for leaders and it infuses their work with meaning.

There are three women around a table smiling and looking at a laptop. They're in a meeting.There are three women around a table smiling and looking at a laptop. They're in a meeting.

Table of contents

Insights from Ellen Raim, Founder of People MatterWe focus more on solving than preventing People problems.

Why is drive so crucial for the leaders of tomorrow? 

Drive fuels purpose for leaders and it infuses their work with meaning. Drive shapes their mission and amplifies self-advocacy, ensuring they stay on course and inspire those around them.

The essence of purpose

Drive propels future leaders to leap beyond the boundaries of today's standards and forge paths toward uncharted territories.

Leaders with drive don't accept the status quo — they question it, challenge it and seek to improve it. By developing a deep understanding of their own intrinsic motives and desires, future leaders can align their actions with a purpose that transcends profit. This purpose acts as a compass, guiding decisions, fostering innovation and cultivating a sense of belonging and commitment within their teams.

Finding meaning in the mission

For a leader, drive isn’t just about having the energy to keep moving forward — it's about knowing why the journey matters.

Embedding meaning into their mission makes the vision tangible for everyone involved. Driven leaders are adept at connecting their values with their professional endeavors, making their missions resonate on a deeper level. This resonance motivates them and ignites a collective enthusiasm among their teams, leading to a workplace where every goal pursued is imbued with significance.

Crafting a mission that motivates

A clear, compelling mission is the heartbeat of any initiative, and a leader's drive propels this mission.

Future leaders must learn to harness their drive to craft missions that reflect their vision for achievement. This mission becomes a rallying cry that unites the team, provides clarity amidst uncertainty and serves as a benchmark for success. A leader's relentless pursuit of a mission, driven by an unwavering belief in its attainability, sets the tone for a culture of achievement and excellence.

The power of self-advocacy

Drive also empowers leaders to become their own advocates.

In a world of fierce competition and loud noise, future leaders will need more than a clear vision to succeed. Leaders must articulate their vision, advocate for their ideas and persuade others of their value.

Self-advocacy is about confidently stating one's case, navigating obstacles and seizing opportunities. To achieve this, future leaders will need to be visionary and vocal, ensuring their voices are heard, their contributions are recognized and their visions are shared.

Learn live. Adapt faster.

Latest resources

Learn more about creating a culture of learning throughout our resources below.

What is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)?
Electives team
 
Feb 4, 2026

What is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)?

Discover 7 ways to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility at work as part of a high-performance culture.
Culture + collaboration
How to design "third place" learning for connection & belonging
Electives team
 
Feb 3, 2026

How to design "third place" learning for connection & belonging

Workplace loneliness costs $4K per employee annually. Learn how to design live, cohort-based learning as "third place" architecture that builds connection, belonging and performance.
Culture + collaboration
Workplace holidays to celebrate in March
Electives team
 
Feb 1, 2026

Workplace holidays to celebrate in March

March is packed with meaningful workplace holidays, and we’ve compiled a list of them for you. You can also download our holiday calendar.
Culture + collaboration
6 ideas to celebrate Women's History Month at work
Electives team
 
Jan 31, 2026

6 ideas to celebrate Women's History Month at work

March is Women’s History Month (WHM), an opportunity to celebrate the contributions women have made to society. Here are 6 ideas to celebrate at work.
Culture + collaboration
People developing people: Leaders living loudly with Tripadvisor’s Bree Sykes
Electives team
 
Jan 29, 2026

People developing people: Leaders living loudly with Tripadvisor’s Bree Sykes

Bree Sykes shares how L&D leaders can build trust, reduce isolation and drive business impact by treating development as connective tissue—not an island.
People leader interviews
The remote training formula that keeps distributed teams engaged
Electives team
 
Jan 28, 2026

The remote training formula that keeps distributed teams engaged

Learn how to design engaging, effective virtual learning that drives the same results as in-person training.
Learning best practices

View all posts

ENJOYABLE. EASY. EFFECTIVE.

Learning that works.

With live learning + AI simulations, Electives is a learning platform that makes it easy to design, execute and measure effectiveness.

Request a demo

Request a demo

Learn more

Learn more