Leading With Passion and Commitment

A great leader, whether with their work team or their family, passionately and regularly communicates that what we are doing together is important. We are going to accomplish important things and you fill a valuable role in producing that meaningful outcome. She transmits an expectation and dedicated steadfastness that this will happen; this will be done, and done well. One of those high expectations is that each individual will grow as a person and have a better life because of their effort and joint commitment to a worthy goal.

I admire such leadership wherever I see it. One place it is demonstrated to me several times a week is at my local Subway restaurant.

Arranging the Potato Chips

Eric lives in a one bedroom house with his mother and brother while he attends a local college. When his Mom lost her job two years ago he hired on at my local Subway restaurant to fill the income gap. His passionate and positive commitment to delivering the best product and highest quality customer service is obvious. Day-in and day-out I’ve enjoyed the best fast food experience ever, anywhere. Knowing I was going to write this article I interviewed this bright, vibrant young man on why, despite what is a low paying job, he is so passionate and determined to do it so well.

I learned this was his first job. Early into it he had just finished restocking the potato chip rack when the owner came in. He looked at the rack and in a positive and passionate way called Eric aside. “Look at that rack Eric. It’s stocked… but there are gaps, and some of the bags are crooked. It’s 80% at best. That’s the way people will see our store; and that’s the way people will see you.”

Eric told me, “That message and the way it was delivered opened my eyes to how people look at me and what I am capable of. Why not give 100% to it? So now I do, and I feel so much better about my job and myself.” His leader, the store owner, communicated his high expectations for Eric’s job performance in a way that helped Eric grow in the job and as a person. And he continued to do that encouraging him in many ways, including steering him to a specific diet and exercise plan that Eric committed to, dropping him from 230 lbs. to a buff 190. Eric was promoted to store manager earlier this year and is now passing leadership lessons on to others. He is also firmly committed to finishing his business degree, and working to own a Subway or some other business of his own. And I very much expect he will.

Now Eric is a 20 year old whose passion and commitment will be tested many times over a lifetime, as has yours and mine. But the lessons he exemplifies today were an important reminder to me, someone with decades more experience. Whether you are a CEO or a temporary employee, you work in super high tech or in fast-food, passion and commitment matter a lot in leading on the job and taking the lead in your own life. To use passion to your advantage you need to understand what it is and know what your own core passions are.

Passion Is Deep, Not Deafening

Recognize that passion is not the same as yelling, hype or frenzied emotion. When passion is lacking, there is a temptation to use superficial intensity as a proxy and it can come across as hollow. “I don’t really believe this but I want you to.”

Passion instead is authentic and radiates from a core conviction. Some of the most passionate leaders I’ve met possess a quiet depth of commitment that reflects itself in steadfast, often detailed action to insure their passions bloom. Such a core passion deeply engages the individual and team with the leader’s commitment to make those important aspirations a reality.

Making The Most of Your Passions

How do you make the most of your passions? It begins with knowing what they are. Many people and leaders don’t. Why not check yours now by asking yourself two questions? At your core what are your enjoyment passions – what sparks pleasure, fun and joy in your life?

Now ask yourself what are or could be your achievement passions? What efforts and outcomes that you achieve bring you the most meaningful sense of fulfillment from what you do and who you are?

Are your family members or friends very important to you and to each other? If so be passionate about your lives together and the potential of each person. Be committed to bringing the best you can to each of their lives whether it is as a parent, a child, sibling, breadwinner or care giver. Recognize and prize what they bring to yours. Communicate and demonstrate often and with conviction how important they are individually and as a whole to you.

Similarly explore, explain and pursue your own individual passions. Mine is fishing and my wife’s is gardening. We make it a point to support each other with lots of joy created from the catching and releasing and the harvesting and eating.

Professionally think about why your role and what your organization does are important or could be. Can you radiate a passion about that? Remember, even if you don’t love the job you have at the moment, it is so honorable and to your benefit to be passionate and committed to how well you do it and help others do theirs.

Our passions, like hot coals, need to be fueled to radiate through us their life affirming energy and glow. Otherwise they go out. Pick one of yours and ignite it today and every day by even small actions that demonstrate how important it is to you. It will light up your life with more vitality, satisfaction and joy.

Jim Bird
Publisher

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