I have asked many people what characteristics make someone a great leader, and one word that comes up time and time again is passion. To further build on this, my observation throughout the years is that the most successful leaders are those who have a strong sense of passion for what they do. That passion makes a world of difference in how they show up and engage with others.

Think about it. Imagine an employee who is highly educated and has all the right strengths required to do their job. Now imagine that this person has no real interest or passion for the role. How might they perform in that job? Do you think they will be able to excel and create high levels of engagement and performance?

When we are passionate about what we do, it becomes a labor of love not a job, and there is a big difference in the level of results produced.  

‍The Best Leaders Care and Are Passionate

Leadership is one of the most popular topics on the planet. Thousands of books have been written, but and all the knowledge in the world cannot make you a successful leader. Passion is critical to help you develop followership and engagement. Most people tend to be drawn to someone who exhibits enthusiasm or inspiration but what does that mean and how does that translate into qualities, specifically?

Based on all my years of research and experience as a leadership coach and consultant, I have come up with a list of the top 10 essential qualities that define passionate leadership:

‍1. Confidence

Fear is what holds people back from seizing their true and full potential. Fear of failure. Fear of not being accepted. Fear of not being good or smart enough. Sound familiar? Fear is what prevents us from being authentic and true to ourselves and others around us. Fear is what creates conflict, broken or lack of communication and results. It is a learned behavior and instilled in us as young children or through our life experiences. However, it can be overcome by shifting your thinking. So, what is the antidote to combat fear? Confidence.

You are good enough and smart enough. Otherwise you would not be in the position of leadership, so stop listening to that critical voice in your head. Be proud and celebrate your successes and what you have to offer by being confident in who you are and the capabilities and competencies you posses. People want to be guided and supported by someone who is confident in what they say and what they do.  

‍2. Vision

Every organization needs people who are focused on the day-to-day delivery of results for the company and team. Meeting short-term goals is important, and details really do matter. However, the most passionate leaders also see how meeting the goals of today helps organizations thrive tomorrow. Visionary leadership allows businesses to grow for the long term, and with the current times and an ever-changing customer/client base, it is critical to have line-of-site to a long-term strategy. And, don’t forget to surround yourself with people who will help deliver not only for today but for the future.

Also, remember to be inclusive when creating a vision or strategy for your business. After all, the best source of ideas come from people who are closest to the customer, so ask them what they think. Their responses may surprise you.  

‍3. Vulnerability

Vulnerability is something that we are extremely passionate about when it comes to the subject of leadership. When leaders show their authentic selves by being vulnerable, they can relate to their people more effectively and inspire them to reach greater heights.

Although it goes against much of what we were all taught about leadership, embracing your vulnerability and losing the associated fear is one of the best ways to demonstrate to your employees that you're engaged and passionate about what you do. It will also set the tone for how everyone else in the business behaves and how they act towards one another. Vulnerability helps build trust and establishes strong connections for people inside and outside your organization.

‍4. Emotional Intelligence

Vulnerability and emotional intelligence go hand in hand. Emotional intelligence – the capacity to understand and connect emotionally with others – increases when you act with authenticity by allowing yourself to be vulnerable, making you better able to engage with your people and demonstrate your passion as a leader. After all, businesses are made up of people and are driven by people. The inability or desire to connect genuinely will make the difference between mediocrity and success.

‍5. Understanding the True Value of Human Capital

One of the surest signs that a leader has lost his or her passion and perspective is an unwillingness to invest in human capital. Even if you possess the most brilliant mind in business, your organization is not going thrive unless you understand the true value of your people. They represent the biggest asset you have – imagine how successful you could be if they all shared your passion. This is only possible if you invest in them, just as you would with any of your company's other valued assets. The people in your business are your business, and it is your role as a leader to ensure they receive the support they need to deliver the results you desire to achieve.

‍6. Positivity

Of course, not everyone can be expected to have a positive attitude all the time, but it is important to be mindful of how you present yourself. Most importantly, you have to examine how you think and feel about you – if you foster negative beliefs about yourself and your abilities, that will translate into limiting your thinking and the possibilities for greatness, achievement and growth. Your thinking creates your reality. If you only see the glass half empty, that is what you will receive or manifest majority of the time. Remember, your behavior impacts the behavior of others around you and you set the tone for how your people will think and behave.

‍7. Belief in the Mission at Hand

When the odds seem to be against you, it is hard to be confident and passionate about what you are trying to achieve as a leader. However, if you genuinely believe in yourself and the mission that you have set for your organization, then anything is possible.

Do not be apathetic about your organization's mission if you want to inspire your people to perform. Show them that you believe in your collective success, and they will follow suit.

‍8. Strong Commitment to Success

Achieving success takes hard work. Sure, a little luck along the way never hurts, but you cannot depend on providence to reach your goals. Passionate leaders are also committed to the tasks at hand, and they believe in what they are doing. They also inspire others to share the same perspective.

You cannot just go through the motions and expect to be successful. Find a goal you believe in; work together on a plan, show your commitment and you will inspire your people like nothing else.

9. Active Listening

If you want to engage your people and achieve the desired results for your business, then you need to actively listen when engaged in a conversation. The surest way to demotivate someone is to dismiss what they are saying to you. Think about it. How does it feel when you know someone is not listening to you? Terrible, right? Passionate leaders understand that a conversation involves sharing your perspective, but it also involves active listening. The only way to engage with people, understand them, and, ultimately, motivate them, is to listen!

10. Involving Others in Your Passion

You may believe that you are a passionate leader, but if you are not sharing that passion with others, it becomes meaningless. If you feel great about something that your organization is doing, share that with others and celebrate the success. If you are excited about the future of your organization, make sure your people are just as excited by involving them.  

It is all about your ability to connect and engage with your people – if you’re passionate, you need to express that passion in a way that inspires others to succeed.

More Tips and Advice on Passionate Leadership

What are your thoughts about the qualities that define passionate leadership? What do you do to share your passion and enthusiasm with your people? I am extremely passionate about this topic so feel free to reach out to me directly, I would love to chat with you in more detail. Call me at 1.855.871.3374 or email me at joanne.trotta@leadersedgeinc.ca. 

I am passionate about your success so please reach out. I would love to hear from you!