Title: Motivation to lead: A study that research to what extent a leader’s motivation to lead affect the motivation among its followers Authors: Felicia Edenhammar and Yasmine Hansson Olaussson Keywords: Motivation to lead (MTL), motivation, leadership, job satisfaction, leader, follower Background: Motivation is an important resource for organizations if they wish to achieve a higher effectivity and productivity. Leadership is important to be able to reach this motivation. Even though leadership is important, it is a very difficult word which is dependent on relationships between leaders and followers. These relationships have great importance for job satisfaction. There are many studies about how the followers' motivation affects the company, but very rarely it is studied how leaders' motivation affect themselves and furthermore their followers. Research question: To what extent does leader’s MTL affect their followers' motivation? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explain to what extent leaders MTL affect its followers' motivation. Method: This study uses both a qualitative and quantitative approach where an abduction isused. Empirical data has been gathered by holding eight interviews with leaders as well as surveys with their followers. The empirical data is analyzed by in case analysis and cross case analysis. Theoretical framework: This study begins by connecting motivation and different theories. Among these are the two-factor theory, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the self-determination theory and the cognitive evaluation theory. After this we define leadership basedon Rost (1993) definition to continue into the similarity attraction theory, the social learning theory and leader-member exchange theory. Lastly, we present the motivation to lead theory which this study builds upon. Findings: The findings are that a leader's MTL influences the follower’s motivation. It was shown that SN-MTL has the greatest effect on followers' motivation. While the amount of AFFMTL and NC-MTL did not really matter, it was found that the existence of these MTL were important.

Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera vilka faktorer som påverkar motivationen hos universitetsstudenter att vilja eller inte vilja bli en ledare. Genom att undersöka vad som motiverar universitetsstudenter att bli ledare kan vi skapa en bredare förståelse för vilka faktorer som spelar in i viljan att bli en ledare. Utifrån teorier om motivation att leda (MTL) och den intelligenta karriären (ICF) har vi undersökt universitetsstudenters tankar kring varför eller varför inte de anser att de passar som en ledare, genom att utgå från fem faktorer: personlighetsdrag, erfarenhet, värderingar, självförtroende och relationer. För att besvara frågan om vad som motiverar universitetsstudenter att bli ledare utförde vi en kvalitativ studie, genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med 10 universitetsstudenter från Campus Gotland, där vi undersökte de olika faktorerna kopplade till teorierna. Flera av studenterna studerar på olika program och utav 10 respondenter var det 6 män och 4 kvinnor. Enligt studiens resultat vill de flesta universitetsstudenter bli en ledare av någon form. De främsta motiven för individernas vilja att på sig en ledarroll grundar sig i deras personlighet, tidigare erfarenhet och påverkan från sina föräldrar. Vi kan se att individerna framför allt har stora likheter i deras upplevda personlighetsdrag och att tidigare erfarenhet av ledarskap påverkar individerna positivt till att vilja bli ledare igen. Bland de individer som inte vill bli ledare är ansvar en avgörande faktor. Dessa individer har tidigare ledarskapserfarenhet och vill inte längre bli ledare på grund av ansvaret det medför. Vi har därför visat att tidigare ledarskapserfarenhet inte nödvändigtvis behöver öka viljan att ta på sig en ledarroll, utan kan tvärtom minska. Tidigare forskning berör inte ansvar som en avgörande faktor, vilket enligt studiens resultat är avgörande för viljan att ta på sig en ledarroll. Genom att i framtida forskning undersöka sambandet mellan ansvar och viljan att ta på sig en ledarroll kan en mer djupgående förståelse kring vad som motiverar universitetsstudenter att ta på sig en ledarroll genomföras. / This study aims to identify the factors influencing university students' motivation to become leaders. By examining why university students become leaders, we can better understand the underlying factors involved in this decision. Using motivation to lead (MTL) and intelligent career (ICF) theories as a framework, we focused on five key factors: personality traits, experience, values, self-efficacy, and relationships. Through qualitative research, we conducted semi-structured interviews with ten university students from Campus Gotland, including four females and six males studying different programs. The results indicate that most university students aspire to become leaders. Their desire stems from their personality traits, previous leadership experience, and parental influence. Notably, individuals with similar perceived personality traits are strongly motivated to take on leadership roles again if they have previous leadership experience. However, some individuals who have previous leadership experience wish to avoid becoming leaders due to the responsibility associated with it. This finding highlights the significance of duty as a decisive factor in one's reluctance to take on leadership roles. Previous research has overlooked this aspect, emphasizing the need for future studies to explore the relationship between responsibility and the willingness to become leaders. By delving further into the connection between responsibility and the motivation to become leaders, we can better understand university students' explanations for assuming leadership roles.