Nothing is more energizing than doing something you are passionate about. We couldn’t agree more. But what if your job — technically and/or as a leader — doesn’t really feel like it is something you care that deeply about much less are passionate about? Therein lies the challenge — or as we see it, the two challenges.
Challenge One: Are you passionate about your work?
As a professional in any organization, you have goals, focus areas, and things that have to be done — so, of course, the logical first question around passion is this: How passionate/energized are you about those goals, focus, and things that need to be done? Your answer could be very, a little, or not at all. Finding out the answer to that question requires your constant clarification of what you are doing and reflecting on your feelings and energy about doing those things. It is essentially a solitary role, though of course you are doing it with the help of your boss, peers, customers, and others who have insights into what is expected of you.
When you discover that you are passionate, there is only upside. If you discover you are not, reflection needs to continue to determine if this role/company/project is worth staying involved with, or if it would better for you to move on to something else.
That decision of course is also a somewhat solitary one, though likely it involves some others in your life who may be dependent on you in some way and thus need to be included in the decision making process.
We recommend you allow yourself the courage and the luxury of asking that question. Today, given the changing landscape of work and the wide variety of opportunities open to people, it would not make much sense to avoid looking at this question. You owe it to yourself, your organization, and those who work with or for you — especially those who work for you. Which brings us to challenge two.
Challenge Two: How can you help your staff be passionate about their work?
As a leader, there’s another challenge inherent with having that responsibility. Whether you wish to or not, you have a responsibility to build an environment that motivates others. This role includes finding out what your staff and those you work with are passionate about (to the extent possible) and to work with them to help them engage in work that excites them. Regardless of whether you are “passionate” about your particular work, being a leader requires that you spend time understanding and supporting others in their passions. And even if you’re not passionate about what you do remember, as a leader, you must remain engaged and involved in the work environment and help others to stay engaged, passionate, and challenged when it comes to what they do!
Does this idea of putting others before you as a leader shock you?
Are you thinking — hey, that’s unfair — why should I put my staff’s passions before my own?
When you accepted a role as a leader, you accepted the responsibility to help others excel, succeed, and stay motivated. You cannot make people feel motivated, but you can understand their interests and passions and work hard to make sure they are engaged in work that fits their interests and passions. Or maybe they too need to consider if they are in the right job. It’s an interesting question to ponder. We think great leaders help people stay motivated and also, if they discover they are not a good fit for the job/role, help them self select out of what they are doing and find other work more focused on their passions.
Join the over two and a half million people who have seen this Ted talk about the importance of finding work you love and are passionate about.
Additional Insights . . .
- Additional Reading
- Two books worth reading on the subject of work/passion. Both are practical as well as philosophical.
I Don’t Know What I Want, But I know It’s Not This: A Step-by=-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work
Passion at Work: How to Find Work You Love and Live the Time of Your Life
- Two books worth reading on the subject of work/passion. Both are practical as well as philosophical.
- Many people want to know if passion is linked to success. This article addresses that issue in a fresh way.