Misguided Ambition

Ambition is lauded within our culture and society, especially in the western region of the world. It is branded in our psyche as the quintessential characteristic of the modern person. While I don’t think that ambition is a bad thing, I think that we have esteemed it to a place where we feel that we can use it as an excuse or justification to be malicious and self serving. When someone is exploited in the name of ambition, we accept it as being normal. In several cases, this form of ambition seeks to secure a certain status or position. The use of manipulation is not exempt in order to attain the desired station and many bridges are burned with the same torch used to light the path to that very destination. 

When ambition is left ungoverned, it can begin to push the boundaries of ethics and character.  At the heart of this matter is the question, “what is the ambition being driven by? If not careful, we can promote the pursuit of achievement at the expense of integrity. Compromise will coat a calloused heart, unpenetrated by moral character and fixed only on self-interest. This is a key ingredient in the toxic culture that  is so prevalent these days. While it may be masked as zeal, enthusiasm and initiative, this misguided ambition is actually a quest for personal significance. It seeks to fill its coffer with trophies, accolades, awards and recognition to validate self worth. It mistakes trinkets for treasure and will result in unfulfilled desire.

The aim of the pursuit needs to be adjusted. Instead of pursuing status, title and position, a more excellent pursuit would be influence. We will find that the benefits that are often sought through the  means of status (i.e. wealth, honor and success) are actually attracted by means of influence. 

“A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance among brothers”. - Proverbs 17:2

The ambitious will ultimately find themselves in pursuit of influence or position. As ambition pilots this pursuit, here are a few things to consider:

01 | You can have influence without the title

One who may be lightly esteemed, in terms of rank or position, may carry more influence than someone that actually has the title. Why? It is because these are the de facto leaders. They may not be formally recognized by their title, but how they carry themselves has such influence that their word is regarded above the one that actually has the formal title. I worked with such an individual when I was a warehouse manager. I designated the person to be my logistics coordinator during my tenure, however, he had executed every role within the warehouse at some point in his career. He demonstrated proficiency and excellence in each of the roles that he occupied. He was well known by many in the company, from the president down to the entry level warehouse associate. His integrity, reliability, knowledge and kindness marked him in such a way that his counsel was often coveted, even in matters that would normally require managerial input. 

02 | You can have the title without the influence.

I once worked with a manager whose leadership style was characterized by arrogance and control. It was really important for this individual to get the credit. I often had to be strategic about how I completed my tasks as not to appear that I was showing this person up. Since I was lower on the totem pole, in regards to position, if I produced results or developed solutions independent of this manager’s input, it was perceived as an effort for me to promote myself and embarrass them. The team that I worked on wasn’t fond of this manager because of how things were communicated and quite frankly, the level of integrity was subpar as well. The team didn’t trust this manager’s character, therefore they would question and challenge their authority. While I do not condone authority being undermined, warning should be heeded that being the head of the department without the heart of the people leads to hands of rebellion.

03 | Accountability is not hidden behind position.

This is an admonition for those who may find security and refuge in their title or status, deceived by the notion that their position will safeguard or exonerate them from poor decision making in perpetuity. This belief is false and can be harmful if embraced long enough.  Those who have an incorrect view about leadership will often resort to pointing the finger and blame shifting when objectives are not fulfilled. Instead of assuming responsibility as the leader, they will seek to leverage their position to place the fault on someone else. You cannot willingly take credit for victory because of the title, but then shirk the accountability that accompanies the blunders as well. 

04 | Promotion is the product of results delivered not title chasing.

The one that provides the results is the one that will be granted access and given more responsibility. Employers keep their eye out for the one that produces results. Once they see that favorable results are consistently being yielded, they will begin to reach out to the individual or team that is consistently producing these results because of the dependability factor. The caveat is that excellence attracts responsibility. Once it is recognized that excellence is your standard, then that will become the expectation, which isn’t negative. Unfortunately, this is not always stewarded well and employers may inadvertently add more to the plate than anticipated because they now have a track record of positive outcomes being produced by you. This is not to dissuade you from producing excellent results, but rather heighten your awareness so that if this does happen, it can become a basis to discuss future opportunities available for you.

Please do not hear what I am not saying. The aim of this piece is not to persuade you to abandon ambition and drift into the sea of complacency. Rather, it is to encourage you to harness that ambition so that it may be employed to chase after a prize that is worthy of the pursuit. The aftermath of misguided or misplaced ambition can resemble that of a tornado that leaves devastation in its wake after it has forged its path. 

Misguided ambition can lead into a frivolous pursuit of an ungratifying prize. Pursue influence not position.