Passion Doesn't Guarantee Performance. So What Does?

There is a lot of talk these days about the importance of passion in one’s success.  I’m a big believer in passion.   I developed a keynote address and subsequent seminar called The Power of Passion some years ago.  I think it plays a big part in one’s overall satisfaction with a chosen career, hobby, or other pursuits.  If one is passionate about those pursuits they are likely to stick with them.  Even though I’m a proponent of passion, I’m also a myth buster.  The myth is that Passion alone will make one successful.  

The truth is Passion alone will not cause one to achieve one’s goal.  An astrophysicist must be a wiz at trigonometry to build a rocket ship; he can't build it with his passion.  A musician doesn’t win a Grammy because he’s passionate about music but because he’s talented as a musician.  If a student is passionate about learning but doesn’t complete homework assignments or show up for tests, she will likely not do well in school.  When our passion is coupled with performance we have a proven recipe for success.  And in order to achieve high performance one must have skills and knowledge. 

A family member shared with me that he learned this earlier in life when he decided to replace the brakes in his car – himself.  He was passionate about doing it and he did it.  He didn’t realize, however, that he had missed a crucial step until he slammed into the rear end of another car.   He learned that even though he was excited and confident about completing this repair, he didn’t have the know-how.  He hadn’t taken the time or spent the effort to learn how to do it.  

I have had people tell me “Angela, I got the job I have today because my employer saw passion and potential in me.”  I don’t doubt that.  But, I tell them, if you kept that job and became good at it, you had to live up to that potential at some point.  You had to transition from potential to results.  One of my colleagues is currently struggling at work because her passion will no longer be enough to sustain her.  Her boss, who hired her a year ago because of her passion, has moved on to another role.  Her new boss expects high performance from her.  She’s going to have to step it up -- do more and prove more. 

 

Can passion lead you to make greater effort and try harder?  Can it motivate you to be tenacious and dedicated?  Sure.  That is, after all, the role of passion in your success!  It’s doesn’t replace or override all else.  Most people know that Michael Jordan wasn’t successful at basketball the first time out.  But he stuck with it and the rest is history -- he was passionate.  The six championship rings he has, they were not given to him because of his passion, they were rewards for performance.  

Division Cripples Societies... and Businesses too.

There are three species that have survive thousands of years on earth and continue to grow in number. They are ants, termites, and... wait for it... people.  What do they all have in common? They work in teams and live in communities.  They instinctively know that all of them working individually can't accomplish as much as the whole group together. 

President Bill Clinton once said "to improve the state of a nation takes education and inclusion."  Any nation can be improved with these two things.    And, education refers not only to formal learning but access to information as well.  Experts say that this principle applies to businesses too. 

Here is one case that illustrates the point. The country of Singapore went from $1000 per capita income to $55000 per capita income? Now the country is acclaimed as being one of the top five countries to live; its in the top five countries for education.  The country is even rated as having the best airport, and being the cleanest country.  How did all that happen in two decades?   The powers-that-be realized that division cripples societies.  Shared responsible,  shared prosperity and shared opportunity allow a country to flourish. The same is true of companies.  

Leaders need to be able to explain what is happening and include people in the process.  Research from The Bob Nelson Group, Creative Leadership Council, Society of Human Resource Management, and others, shows that followers feel respected when leaders take the time to explain and help them understand decisions. They also appreciate understanding how changes and expectations will effect them.  Even if they disagree with the leader's choices, they will still feel valued. Also, leaders need to express their vision -- where the team is now and where they should go.

Just as important is a leader's willingness to invite opposing viewpoints.  Let's look at another example. President Nelson Mandela appointed individuals who supported apartheid onto his legislative Cabinet. He realized that those differences of opinion might make them the best qualified persons for those roles.  

Companies work very much the same way.  Leaders benefit from including those who are different from them.  It positions them to anticipate problems, formulate contingency plans, improve processes, and innovate.

A smart team makes better decisions than a lone genius. 

May is Mastery Month - What Skills Will You Sharpen?

May is mastery month.  What does that mean?  For me, it means learning something new and getting better at something old.  It could be honing a skill as well.   Its about investing some time into learning more. 

Most adult have contemplating taking up a new hobby, but never done it.  Many of us have considered taking a class or lesson, and abandoned the notion.  May is the time that I challenge you to revisit those forgotten passions or interested.  Dr. Stephen Covey called it 'sharpening the saw' (in 7 habits of highly effective people).

There is a purpose to all of this as well.  It's not just for fun, it's for development.  You might want to learn more about top companies in your industry in order to stay on top of the latest trends and practices.  You may want to sharpen an existing skill to ready yourself for a promotion.  You might consider learning more about the global economy to impress potential clients.  Perhaps you would be interested in gaining more knowledge about the stock market to improve your retirement portfolio.  

Whatever your motive or motivation, there are lots of ways to sharpen your saw.   Here are some ways to get started mastering in May.  

•  Most universities offer certification program, and executive degrees for a fraction of the price of advanced degrees.  Give them a call and request more information.
• Community colleges, recreation centers and other institutes offer skill-building courses in everything from painting to guitar to creative writing.  You can develop a new skill in one night or a few weeks.
• Joining a league (like bowling, tennis, etc) is also a great way to master abilities in certain areas by practicing frequently.  It also has the added benefit learning from others. 
• I have found that when it comes to DIY projects, YouTube videos are a quick and easy way to pick up new ideas. If you're a visual learner or have a short attention span,  this could be the way to go for you.
• Subscribing to magazines and trade publications that focuses on a particular subject matter or industry is also an effective way to sharpen your skills.  For example HR.com magazine has become a staple for me in learning about new trends and developments in Human Resources.  There are hundreds of industry specific publications available.  Garden Design magazine is a great choice for the avid landscaper; Nurse.com The Magazine is educational for those in the medical care profession; and the list goes on and on.

How will you use the month of May to make yourself more skilled or marketable?  What will you do to stay educated and relevant?  Align your efforts with your goals, and you're sure to see maximum results.

www.yourenhance.com  | Enhance Business Solutions | learning coaching development