Posts Tagged ‘The Singer Has No Passion’
Can Too Much Passion Be Dangerous?
In our August 2009 newsletter (http://www.msbcoach.com/Articles.php) we addressed passion and leadership. I hope you took the time to answer the questions addressed. If you did not, here they are again:
- What am I passionate about?
- Where did I begin to lose my passion?
- Did I compromise and if so where?
- What can I do to get my passion back?
- What is the price and am I willing to pay that price?
Passion is an important part of life and is especially important in the lives of leaders; however if we are not careful our passions can be dangerous. Have you ever heard the statement, “Crimes of Passion?”
When passion is unbridled, it can become an obsession. With passion, we drive ourselves. Passion attracts others to us. An obsession, on the other hand, controls us. Leaders who are obsessed are not passionate; they are controlled and become slaves to their own compulsions thus affecting those around them.
If you lead people out of fear or control, you are working from an obsession. If you think you have passion yet look behind you and see that no one if following, you may be leading out of obsession. Obsession kills you and your team. Passion inspires you and those around you. If you find yourself in the realm of obsession rather than passion, take these steps to restore your balance:
Evaluate your obsession.
What is the root source of the obsession?
Is your obsession for personal gain or control?
List three steps you can take each day to rechannel your obsession into a passion people can follow.
Find a trusted accountability partner to hold you to these three steps.
Passion is magical. You must have it to lead. Chuck Gallozi (http://www.personal-development.com/chuck) in his article titled “Developing Passion” gave 12 steps to deepen and develop you passion. They are as follows:
1. Take responsibility. The only bad hand you have been dealt in life was dealt by you. From today, “Don’t do things half-assed,” says Hugh Young, “If a thing is worth doing at all, it’s worth doing as well as you can possibly do it. Pick out something you think is worthwhile and do it or work at it with passion. Do it with all your might.”
2. You find what you look for. Instead of looking for the bad in your job or situation, look for the good. Look for the opportunities. Search for the solutions. Look for the way.
3. Make a plan. Once you’ve found some opportunities and solutions, make a plan of action. What should you avoid doing and what should you start doing now?
4. Make a decision. Now that you have a plan, decide to act on it. Set deadlines and start following your new road map to success. Enjoy the ride.
5. Stoke the fire of passion. To keep passion’s fire burning brightly, review the day’s events in the evening. Monitor your progress. Relish your achievements and learn from your mistakes.
6. Don’t douse the flames. You want to ignite your life with passion, but be careful of burnout. Work hard, but schedule breaks, leisure, entertainment, and family time. Don’t forget to reward yourself occasionally.
7. Recharge your batteries. Make time for the gym, sports, long walks, or meditation to relieve stress, refresh you spirit, and renew your energy.
8. “Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” (Henry Miller)
9. Take brief “awareness breaks” throughout the day to remind yourself of the joy of being alive.
10. Avoid negative people and associate with enthusiastic people.
11. Share your zest for life with others. Brighten up their day. Their warm response will reinforce your passion.
12. Take “vitamins for the mind.” That is read or listen to motivational material to keep the flames burning.
© Chuck Gallozzi
At MSBCoach, we are passionate out leadership development, coaching and building high performance teams. If you would like to talk to us about opportunities to partner with MSBCoach please contact us at: info@msbcoach.com, 804-502-4319 or visit our sites:
www.msbcoach.com or www.emergingleader.info.
We hope to hear from you!
The Singer Has No Passion
By Michelle Braden
My husband and I are in NYC with friends for a bike trip. We all went to a restaurant last night where the servers sing and dance. We discovered this place at Christmas. It is amazing. We met up with a group of 5 other people and went in to be entertained.
About half way through our meal, one of the singers got up, like all the others, this singer had an amazing voice BUT something was not there. The friend next to me said, “Something is missing… he is not connecting with the audience.” I then realized the talent was there, but there was no connection or passion. He was singing, but his heart was someplace else.
It is amazing the difference in how you feel as a listener. Others, who sang, did not have the voice quality he did but, did have passion and connection. In the overall experience, they were the ones we wanted to hear again. They were the ones who made us feel important, like they were there for us.
The conversation turned to the aspect of what we are looking for as humans. I of course, with my affection and dedication to compare everything to leadership did just that. I reflected on how people want a leader who connects with them, they want a leader who they feel is devoted and passionate. Just like the singers, it was the ones we felt “linked” to through their stage relationship to us as an audience that won our affection. So it is with leaders, people are lot looking for you to be perfect. No one is perfect. They are looking for a leader who is real, passionate, dedicated and engaged.
How about you, what are you looking for in a leader?
