Shopping – Are you Motivated… and how does that relate to your leadership?

Arthur Carmazzi from The Mall of the Emirates on Shopping and Leadership

It’s late at night in this very big shopping mall here in Dubai and there are still lots of people around, you get to wonder, what is it that makes people want to go shopping? Why is shopping fun? What is it that makes people basically excited to go shopping? And, How does ANY of this relate to Leadership training for managers or organizational culture change…

Well, let’s look at the primary emotional drivers that we talk about in Directive Communication Psychology. Everybody has their own idea of what makes them happy just as everyone has their own “Unique” Leadership Model that works for them . Now, if you go shopping for clothing, it depends on what type of clothing you’re looking for. If you’re looking for branded clothing, then you are not only getting a sense of the emotional drive of diversity build, but you’re also getting the emotional drive of significance. Basically, you look good and you get recognized. Now, let’s say you want to get some new gadgets. New gadgets that can make you productive, that is going to be getting you a sense of achievement. New gadgets that will basically make you look good, like maybe the new iPhone, especially if it’s 18-carat gold, well, that might be a significance.

So each type of thing that we shop for—let’s say, for example, we’re shopping for our kids, but it’s not necessarily branded stuff. We just want some good quality stuff for our kids that will make them happy. Well, that’s going to be a sense of love and belonging. So next time you go shopping, try to identify the emotional drives that are driving you. Now, of course, remember that all of these, the emotional drives that are filled, are also combined with an emotional drive for diversity. Why? Because it’s something new. You’re getting something new and you’re filling your achievement or significance, or possibly even both, and at the same time, you are getting to mix with people that you might be going shopping with, so therefore, the experience of shopping may also have an element of love and belong to it as well.

But how can we use this in our leadership development? how is this relevant to improving organizational culture? Consider the issues that come up in leading people or creating environments where they can be successful in the process of achieving organizational objectives. Most would agree that there are emotional foundations to passion, engagement and productivity.

If we understand what people are “Shopping” for within our team and organization, and the emotional gratifications that support their shopping outcomes, we will know what to provide them. As leaders we would be more in tune with understanding the emotion links to the workplace (thus nurturing a better organizational Culture). Leadership requires awareness (as per our Change Leadership study in 2014). Understand your team’s emotions and you understand their motivators. understanding their motivators supports the creation of a better work environment and culture.

Arthur Carmazzi wishing you great success.

See Arthur Carmazzi on Wikipedia