Are Your People Just Getting By? Here’s How to Activate Their Drive

In today’s workplace, leaders face a common challenge: how to inspire their teams to go above and beyond. You may have experienced it yourself—your team does what’s required, no more and no less. They meet expectations but rarely exceed them. And when you share your vision for the organisation, it feels like it barely lands.

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. Many leaders struggle to motivate their people beyond the basics. But here’s the truth: your team is the engine of your organisation. And if that engine isn’t operating at full capacity, the entire organisation will stall.

So what’s the solution?

It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter by focusing on a key driver of performance: emotional intelligence in the workplace, especially in the form of achievement drive.

The Hidden Ingredient in High Performance: Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is no longer a buzzword. It’s a measurable and coachable set of capabilities that determine how individuals manage themselves and navigate relationships. It’s also a leading predictor of leadership effectiveness.

One core competency of emotional intelligence that directly influences performance is achievement drive.

Achievement drive refers to the internal motivation to meet or exceed a standard of excellence. It’s that fire-in-the-belly quality that separates individuals who take ownership from those who simply comply. It’s not about chasing perfection, but rather a genuine desire to grow, improve, and contribute meaningfully.

In practical terms, achievement drive is the difference between someone who:

• Pushes forward even when it’s tough

• Seeks feedback to improve

• Embraces challenges and calculated risks

• Sets ambitious but realistic goals

• Takes initiative without needing external pressure

And someone who:

• Settles for “just enough”

• Avoids feedback or views it as criticism

• Passively resists change or innovation

• Sees goals as arbitrary tasks rather than meaningful milestones

• Only acts when directly told what to do

Why Achievement Drive Matters to Organisational Growth

As automation and artificial intelligence continue to transform industries, the competitive edge of any organisation lies in its people—not just what they do, but why they do it.

When employees have a strong achievement drive:

• They care about their output and its impact

• They find meaning in their role

• They become self-directed contributors, not just passive participants

• They lift team standards by modelling ownership and accountability

• They align more naturally with the organisation’s mission and goals

On the flip side, a team that lacks this emotional intelligence competency will stall progress. No matter how strategic your plans or how clear your vision, execution falls short when people aren’t internally motivated to improve.

Leaders who understand this shift their focus. They stop trying to push their team and instead develop them—especially in the emotional and psychological drivers of performance.

How to Spot the Signs of Low Achievement Drive

Before you can address it, you need to recognise it. Here are some tell-tale signs that achievement drive may be lacking in your team:

• Employees complete tasks but rarely take initiative.

• There’s little appetite for innovation or improvement.

• Performance goals are seen as obligations, not opportunities.

• Feedback conversations feel defensive or surface-level.

• People avoid accountability or defer decision-making.

• There’s a general sense of disengagement or apathy.

These behaviours are often symptoms of deeper mindset patterns—and mindsets can be reshaped with intentional development.

How to Develop Achievement Drive in Your Team

The good news is that achievement drive is not fixed. It can be cultivated and strengthened with the right support, especially when it’s integrated into a broader emotional intelligence development program.

Here are practical, evidence-based strategies to help you build this competency in your team:

1. Set Clear Standards of Excellence

Make expectations visible and aspirational. People thrive when they know what “great” looks like. Set performance benchmarks that challenge your team while remaining achievable.

2. Connect Goals to Meaning

Achievement drive isn’t about external pressure—it’s about internal motivation. Help your team connect emotionally to what they’re working toward. Ask:

• Why does this matter to you?

• What’s the bigger picture?

• What’s at stake if this doesn’t happen?

When people see the “why,” the “how” becomes easier to own.

3. Encourage Smart Risk-Taking

People with strong achievement drive are willing to take calculated risks. Create a culture where learning from failure is safe. Reward initiative and experimentation, even when outcomes vary. 

4. Make Goals SMART

Help your team define goals that are:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Realistic

• Time-bound

This turns ambition into action.

5. Track and Celebrate Progress

Progress is one of the most powerful motivators. Encourage your team to keep a daily or weekly log of what they’re working on, what’s been achieved, and what’s next. Celebrate small wins along the way.

6. Create Moderate Rewards

Link effort with recognition. Whether it’s praise, professional development opportunities, or team incentives, celebrating progress reinforces a high-performance culture.

7. Lead by Example

As a leader, your own achievement drive sets the tone. Share your learning goals. Be transparent about your challenges and growth. When your team sees you pursuing excellence, they’ll be more inclined to do the same. 

What’s at Stake If You Don’t?

Failing to develop achievement drive doesn’t just affect productivity—it creates deeper cultural issues. Without it, your team risks falling into a cycle of mediocrity where energy is low, standards drop, and innovation stalls.

But with it, you unlock a culture of ownership, resilience, and growth. People become invested in their work—not because they have to, but because they want to.

This is the power of social and emotional intelligence in the workplace. And it’s not a luxury skillset anymore—it’s essential for leading high-performing teams in a complex world.

From Compliant to Committed

Achievement drive is more than ambition. It’s about building an emotionally intelligent workforce that takes pride in doing things well, finds meaning in their contribution, and continuously raises the bar.

So if you’re ready to move your people from compliant to committed, start by investing in their emotional intelligence. Build a workplace where striving for excellence is the norm, not the exception.

We Are Here To Help

At  People Builders, we have a team of expert trainers and coaches who will help you and your team develop Achievement Drive  and many other Social and Emotional Intelligence competencies. Contact us  today for a quick chat to see how we can partner with you to train and coach you and your team.