“Passion is probably the single prerequisite to cultural change... If you're not passionate about it, don't even bother.”
So said Carol Lavin Bernick, the vice chairman and a director of the Alberto-Culver Company in Melrose Park, Illinois, and the president of Alberto-Culver North America.
In literally hundreds of “Secrets to My Success” stories, entrepreneurs site passion as the most important single commodity. They loved and enjoyed their businesses, through hard times and all, and were able to transmit that passion to others.
“Do what you love; the money will follow,” said Dr. Joseph Campbell. "When people do what they really love, the money usually follows," echoes Karen Diedrich, author of "101 Ways to Enrich Your Life" and president of Living Rich, Inc., 1724 E. Frances, Appleton, Wis.
Old-timers call it having a "fire in the belly." Football coaches call it “guts.”
Whatever you want to call it, as a leader, and as a leading company, its your job to recognize it and lead with it. Passion is the fuel to transform. The great have it, the good don’t; the mediocre wonder what all the fuss is about.
Passion is easy to recognize, but its place in business is often disregarded. It means, the energy to follow through on hunches, the commitment to make sure something is going to work or else. It makes hard jobs easy and time evaporate. It makes sales pitches lively and powerful. It enthralls new employees. It is the power behind the voice and energy behind the commitment. With passion, you know the product "cold" and can convincingly take your message to any target audience.
You need it to lead. You must care about what you do and take pride in it. Without loving what you do, doing a good job is impossible. Practical concerns govern our decision-making process, but passion inspires the decision in the first place. With passion, you try, and try and try and try and try to solve the problem. You fuel your creativity. You drive yourself for perfection. You get other people involved. And you get partners on your side. (And your psychologist will tell you, if you suppress your passions, and ignore your instincts, you frustrate yourself on the very deepest human level.)
When doing something you love, you are focused and driven, filled with energy and excitement. You relish your activities. You "flow" through your work, often performing beyond your expectations. You give increased effort and feel uplifted rather than drained.
As a leader, you have the potential not only to distinguish yourself and your personal performance through passion, but also to help others do the same. Passion is contagious. Others will feel it and be drawn to it. They’ll look up to you and mimic your words and deeds. Because they know you’re a winner.
In any organization, there are managers that people want to work for because energy pervades their group. If you focus the drive for your work on passion, your staff will be uplifted by your enthusiasm and example. To excel as a leader, you must also help people to discover and utilize their personal passions. Know what is important to them. Find ways to integrate their passions into their work.
If you’re passionate about your product, you’ll hire employees who are as well. And you listen to them if your product needs to upgrade or change to meet the times. People need to have a sense of ownership and urgency about their business, to welcome innovation and take risks. This could mean that you will help employees find roles they can be passionate about. When they’re doing what they love, they’ll do a better job. They’ll be happier, more productive, and grateful for your support.
And they’ll accomplish remarkable things. Passion can turn a good employee into a great one, an ordinary department or company into an exceptional one. If you integrate passion into your business plan, and help your employees to recognize it there, together you’ll mow down obstacles on the way to the impossible.
Your customers will feel it. If you’re passionate, you’ll make a heartfelt presentation of your products, and you’ll listen to people who use your product to make sure their interest in it remains as high as you think it should be.
Yes, it's your customers who will ultimately benefit. Driven by passion, you’ll automatically provide superior quality and service. They’ll be successful and you’ll be successful.
So, look at what your doing. Are you enthusiastic about it? Do you talk about it to your cab driver, your tennis partner, your wife and kids, your best friend? If not, find what gave you passion in the first place. (The Strategic Audit and the Corporate Embryo.) Then ask yourself, your coworkers, your partners, your competitors where you got sidetracked and what you should do to get reengaged. They’ll see the answer if you don’t, because they “remember when." You were more fun for them to be around.
But, wait. Before you start marching on desktops and waving your flag. At Image Analytics, we encourage a healthy degree of skepticism towards both traditional management theories and blind optimism.
Passion also gives you the energy and devotion to find mentors. They will trust you and believe in you. They’ll help you overcome barriers and if necessary, be ready to dispense a bucket of cold water. In the end, you’ll be better off for it, and eventually you’ll trade the cold water for a bucket of cold Gatoraid.
Congratulations. You on the winning track.