According to Jordan Peterson a single attribute defines a leader, above all others: direction. It is impossible to motivate yourself or others in the absence of vision, purpose and strategy. But most people—executives and managers included—have not spent the time and mental energy necessary to deeply consider and define their direction. This means the story they are telling themselves and others risks incoherence and lacks force. This makes it difficult for them to guide, direct and inspire those for whom they have responsibility. People live inside stories. They frame and shape our world. The story you tell about what you are doing describes your current position (psychological and practical), your ultimate aims and goals, and the strategy that you are implementing to transform the former into the latter. You need to have that story straight and clear, or you won’t know what you are doing, why you are doing it, or how to truly motivate others.

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Meet the speaker

Peterson studied at the University of Alberta and McGill University. He remained at McGill as a post-doctoral fellow from 1991 to 1993 before moving to Harvard University, where he was an assistant and then associate professor in the psychology department.[4][5] In 1998, he moved back to Canada, as a faculty member in the psychology department at the University of Toronto, where he is currently a full professor.

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