It seems that just as we changed the paradigm in the eighties, in the nineties we work synergistically; now we are passionate in mischief. Even my local gas station has passion brochures at the pump! So what are we passionate about…?
Last October, I received some unsolicited but expert advice from an extreme extrovert to “be more passionate.” After calming down, I looked carefully at what I was doing and seriously questioned my level of passion. This was after all expert advice.
My research led me through a motley assortment of shallow pop psychology and self-help books, all with Passion in the title and each dumber than the last. I finally came across a book by Sydney author Peter Wallman, The Wisdom of Passion. He seemed to get to the real core of what Passion is, and after meeting with him I became convinced that he had identified a simple yet powerful process for identifying and capturing our core passions. I loved the simplicity of the process and the clarity it brought to me and my business. Now I help others identify what gets their juices flowing…
Along the way through research, self-analysis, and questioning of my clients and others who have Passion Mapped, I have identified some keys to passion.
Passion is very personal and unique to the individual.
Most of our strongest passions are kept internal and rarely expressed outwardly.
The most powerful passions are not material (or sports).
Connecting strongly with our passions creates a magnetic effect – We attract people and opportunities.
Provoking deep passions requires skill, we have learned well from the school of hard knocks to keep this side of ourselves hidden.
When we express our passion, our voice changes, our eyes sparkle, and our physical behavior changes.
Passion is contagious, be very careful.
Passion comes before motivation and long before action.
Passion makes the difference.
I share my story of being told to “be more passionate” with colleagues and clients and generally get snorts of bewilderment. Being an introvert, I’m not given to jumping across a room, leaping in the air, making a big scream, or bouncing back and forth on a couch, be it Oprah’s or anyone else’s. So how do I express passion? Tell me after you talk to me!!!
Passion is not something you have more (or less) of. Passion is inherent and intrinsic.
Last week I had the opportunity to train 10 leaders and staff members from a niche organization for three intense days.
Each of these individuals has a determination and spark in their eyes, tone of voice, and body posture that unmistakably convey the depth of their passion for the work they do. Unsurprisingly, the organization’s Director is passionately leading from the front – a true visionary leader. I felt honored and very honored to be coaching this particular team. Their common approach and harnessed energy, led by their Director, is making a big difference to their client base. Truly a high-impact, passion-driven organization.
One of our tasks as leaders is to discover and unleash the hidden power of Passion in our employees, to harness and direct this passion towards a shared common goal. Imagine, for a moment, what your team could accomplish this year if it were as involved and focused as the organization I mentioned earlier.
Kofi Annan said: “To live is to choose. But to choose, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there…”.
In business, our mission and values statements explain who we are and what we stand for, our vision statement tells us where we want to go, and our strategy tells us how. But the reason is missing.
Passion is why!!