Status is the desire for social standing. It is one of our 16 motives according to motivation research by Ph.D. Steven Reiss.
People with a weak desire for status are unimpressed by titles and status symbols. They have nonmaterialistic values. They are down-to-earth, casual, informal and humble. They don’t treat people who work higher up in a corporate hierarchy more different than colleagues. Some of them might even dislike a job that involves interacting with formal people.
They are unimpressed with high society, but respect achievers – for example great writers or business people – but are not impressed with status seekers. They believe it is wrong to admire someone just because he/she happened to be born for example wealthy.
When people with high and low motive for status need to interact at work, there can be many misunderstandings between them.
If you want to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings at work and learn more about differences in motivation: Mindful is conducting a Motivating Leader training, click below:
http://www.mindful.se/tjanster/ledarskap/ledarskapsutbildning/motiverande-ledare/
Aila Kekkonen
Certified Reiss Motivation Profile coach, facilitator and trainer