Would you be Happy to be called ‘Ambitious’ and ‘Driven’?
I’ve been called ‘Driven’ and ‘Ambitious’ a few times over my career, which I took as a negative. Once at an interview and another at an appraisal. I didn’t understand why, because I’ve never put myself out there to get as high up in an organisation as I probably could have. I have always just wanted to do a job really well and to make a difference.
I spent some time talking this through once with a colleague and I remember getting a bit emotional about being defined by someone as ‘Driven’ and ‘Ambitious’. She helped me look at myself a bit deeper. I was ambitious to ensure that the work that I did with those around me was recognised. Yes, I was driven. I was driven to ensuring I and we made a difference, to stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves. To never give up when the going got tough.
The Definition of ‘Ambition’ and ‘Driven’
She told me to look it up in the dictionary which I did. That’s when I accepted it’s not that bad to be ambitious or driven.
- Ambition – a strong desire to do or achieve something/desire and determination to achieve success
- Driven – Relentlessly compelled by the need to accomplish a goal; very hard-working and ambitious
I’m what you call a plodder who never gives up. In fact, when I want to give up, I’ll have a wobble, then get back on that horse and try again. A previous Chief Executive called me a ‘Jack Russell’ because he said that once I’ve got my teeth into something, I don’t let go. My core values were to have integrity and to work hard – to earn my salary.
So, why did I get so upset about being depicted as such?
My previous experience with some people I worked with over the years, was that they would do anything to get where they wanted to enhance their career. In fact, they would take the credit for things myself and their teams had undertaken, to make themselves look good. This has never sat right with me. You do not get to the top on your own, you are supported generally all the way by the people around you. I have always been brought up to have integrity. Is this a little bit old fashioned?
Would you lose your Integrity for Ambition?
I’m not going to lie. I do worry about what people think about me. I’m human. However, it is really important that I have integrity and that I have a good reputation.
For me this means:-
- Sticking to my word, if I’m going to do something, I will. If I can’t, I’ll say;
- Be assertive and determined (I learned this by working in an all male environment);
- To be as positive as I can – I’m not 100% perfect at this, but who is;
- To listen, to be empathetic and to follow through on promises and support those around me;
- Being on time for meetings and being as prepared as I can be;
- Hitting deadlines or returning calls;
- Ensuring those that have done the work, get the recognition – it is one big team always!
- Making as meaningful a difference as I can by doing my job and supporting my team both professionally and personally.
Can Ambition and Integrity Work Together?
Yes, I really believe it can. When you work with people all with the same motivation to make a difference, our performance rises. Our motivation increases, we don’t give up, we learn lessons and improve for the next time. The team individually gets recognised for things they have achieved and together as a whole.
And that’s when I’m the most ambitious and driven – because when you see people come together for a common cause, why wouldn’t I be hungry and excited for that and the feelings it gives me and them? When the unachievable becomes the achievable.
In the words of Simon Sinek ‘A small team, committed to a cause bigger than themselves, can achieve absolutely anything’. I’m consistently proud of my team and they make it easy leading them and remaining true to myself.
Useful Information
Karren Brady on Ambition, Determination and Integrity
Simon Sinek on ‘Why Leaders set the tone, so integrity is everything’
Brene Brown – How can you Lead by Example and Live an Authentic Life?
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