“Find a job you enjoy doing and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Mark Twain
Well, it’s a nice concept. We’ve all heard this phrase, and I get the impetus, but honestly, I have found that enjoying your job and working hard are not necessarily mutually exclusive. You’re not going to love every day at work and you can’t possibly make your business the absolute center of your existence 24/7. But I will tell you from experience that running a company is a lot easier if you’re passionate about what you’re doing.
I’ll be the first to admit that there are days when the alarm goes off and I have to summon some extra energy to get up. This is when the Michigan weather sucks and I don’t want to get out of bed, or when it’s nice in the summer, and I’d rather throw a baseball around with my boys. But I go because the daily grind is all part of the pursuit of excellence and success.
In the process, I have purposely built a company that best utilizes my skill sets and makes me passionate about showing people how good I am at what I do. Plus, I have found that passion = revenue and I make no apologies about this. Having a passion for your business makes sense and has proven to be a key factor for many successful small business owners. Still, that alone is not enough to make a new business successful.
What is Passion?
When we talk about passion, what does the term really mean? First of all, it doesn’t mean making money off something because you love it. I love baseball. I loved coaching my kids. But I never played at a high level, and making it a career or income path wasn’t feasible. You have to align common sense with your passion. You have to be enthusiastic. And there are no shortcuts. You have to be willing to persevere and be a grinder. Passion without perseverance = failure.
Passion also doesn’t just mean taking a keen interest in something; it means genuinely enjoying what you do to the point that your work gets you excited. If you’re wondering whether or not you have what it takes to make it in the business world, you need to understand the role that passion plays first. And in many cases, it’s much more than enthusiasm. It’s also the drive you have to keep being better at what you do.
The term “learning on the job” is consistently misused. It’s not necessarily about walking into an office with no experience and learning “on the go.” For instance, I still learn something new every day because I’m a voracious reader, and I love to hear from and learn from other business leaders how they used their intellect AND passion to build a successful company. If you’re passionate about what you do, then you’re consistently learning and, in turn, growing. I love this quote from “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, “If you’re passionate about what it is you do, then you’re going to be looking for everything you can to get better at it.” Jack Canfield.
What I’m most passionate about is the passion I have for my team and how we are effective problem solvers for my clients. Assembling a great team does not happen overnight. “Eagles don’t flock, you have to find them one at a time.” Ross Perot.
As an effective leader, you also need to learn how to make that passion infectious in your workplace. It’s one of the best ways to get your employees to give you a great workday. Simply put, employees who are inspired by what they do give you inspired work. I’m not saying you have to be a cheerleader every day, but your employees must see and feel your enthusiasm for doing good work. And because those employees are your greatest company asset, their excitement for the job is vitally important to your company’s success.
So how do you LEAD with passion?
Be Real and Be Honest
Your employees will know when you’re not being authentic or transparent. Be honest and transparent about how things are going in the office. Work on your internal communication skills. You can honestly assess even downturns in your business without scaring people. Be yourself.
We do a lot of external public relations work at our office, but that doesn’t translate internally. My employees want to hear the unscripted me when I address company issues. And when you don’t have all the answers? Ask for help. There are times when your employees will see problems that you aren’t aware of because you lost perspective. Don’t be afraid to ask for opinions. If your staff is passionate about your company and their job, they’ll feel more affirmed in that enthusiasm if you listen to their suggestions and solutions.
Be Real and Be Honest
Your employees will know when you’re not being authentic or transparent. Be honest and transparent about how things are going in the office. Work on your internal communication skills. You can honestly assess even downturns in your business without scaring people. Be yourself.
We do a lot of external public relations work at our office, but that doesn’t translate internally. My employees want to hear the unscripted me when I address company issues. And when you don’t have all the answers? Ask for help. There are times when your employees will see problems that you aren’t aware of because you lost perspective. Don’t be afraid to ask for opinions. If your staff is passionate about your company and their job, they’ll feel more affirmed in that enthusiasm if you listen to their suggestions and solutions.
Don’t ACT Like you Care. Show it
Flowery speeches about how much an employee means to you and the company do not work. Throwing out unearned compliments is smelled out in seconds by intuitive employees. Yes, tell them when they’ve done an excellent job, but don’t be afraid to hold employees accountable for substandard work. It’s all about balance.
The same goes for how you show compassion. Things happen outside the office that affect drive, moods and work product. Leaders who tell employees to leave their personal lives at home will find themselves constantly looking for new employees in this day and age of massive job-hopping. Children, sicknesses, divorce, etc., are all common issues that find their way into the office. By showing genuine compassion, you’ll show your staff that they are essential to you and the company – and they’ll remember that.
Passion in your business takes on many forms. But to fully inspire your employees and clients and reach the goals you have laid out – it starts with YOU. Without your own passion, there is no spark to ignite the fire in your employees, and your company will ultimately be left out in the cold.