article published Katharina Agethen author Sonja K. Ötting author Barbara Steinmann author 2586510009-0000-3036-2684 4b2dc5c9-bee3-11eb-b75f-ecc80f94fb21 department Abstract - This study aims to deepen the understanding of motivational drivers that shape leadership effectiveness by adopting a neo-configurational perspective. Drawing on McClelland’s theory of human motivation, we investigate how need for power (nPow), need for achievement (nAch), need for affiliation (nAff), and activity inhibition (AI) combine within leaders to enable two outcomes of leadership effectiveness: leadership satisfaction and career success. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis on data from 70 leader-follower dyads, we identify multiple alternative motive configurations that contribute to leadership effectiveness. Specifically, two configurations—termed the Bureaucratic (nPow, ~nAch, AI) and the Relaxed Leader (~ nPow, nAff, ~AI)—are sufficient for very high leadership satisfaction. For career success, we find three sufficient configurations, each highlighting the presence of either AI, nPow, or nAff which are complemented by the absence (~) of other motives or AI. These results demonstrate that leadership effectiveness is driven by multiple distinct configurations of motives, underscoring the causal complexity inherent in motivation-based leadership effectiveness. In doing so, this study contributes to motivation literature by reframing McClelland’s theory as a neo-configurational theory. Springer Science and Business Media LLC2026 eng 0146-7239 1573-664410.1007/s11031-026-10264-z K. Agethen, S. K. Ötting, and B. Steinmann, “A neo-configurational perspective on implicit motives and leadership effectiveness,” <i>Motivation and Emotion</i>, 2026. Agethen, K., Ötting, S. K., &#38; Steinmann, B. (2026). A neo-configurational perspective on implicit motives and leadership effectiveness. <i>Motivation and Emotion</i>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z</a> <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Agethen, Katharina</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Ötting, Sonja K.</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Steinmann, Barbara</span>: A neo-configurational perspective on implicit motives and leadership effectiveness. In: <i>Motivation and Emotion</i>, Springer Science and Business Media LLC (2026) Agethen, Katharina, et al. “A Neo-Configurational Perspective on Implicit Motives and Leadership Effectiveness.” <i>Motivation and Emotion</i>, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z">10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z</a>. K. Agethen, S.K. Ötting, B. Steinmann, Motivation and Emotion (2026). @article{Agethen_Ötting_Steinmann_2026, title={A neo-configurational perspective on implicit motives and leadership effectiveness}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z">10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z</a>}, journal={Motivation and Emotion}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Agethen, Katharina and Ötting, Sonja K. and Steinmann, Barbara}, year={2026} } Agethen, Katharina, Sonja K. Ötting, and Barbara Steinmann. “A Neo-Configurational Perspective on Implicit Motives and Leadership Effectiveness.” <i>Motivation and Emotion</i>, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z</a>. Agethen K, Ötting SK, Steinmann B. A neo-configurational perspective on implicit motives and leadership effectiveness. <i>Motivation and Emotion</i>. 2026. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z">10.1007/s11031-026-10264-z</a> 71032026-08-14T14:56:44Z2026-08-14T14:57:35Z