Search

Show Passion in Your Leadership

1002

The best leaders are passionate about their roles. And although women are often thought to be more passionate by nature, passion isn’t gender specific.

Having a passion for your work is energizing, and something that can inspire others. But the challenge is: How do we transfer that passion to the people we lead?

The outward expression is what we call “leadership traits” — a choice of words, a positive response, or a course of action.

In our professional development classes, we often tell students to define leadership by each choosing three words that describe a person in their lives that they respect as a leader. Then, we formulate a definition of leadership from there. Usually, I hear words like honest, caring, dedicated, trusting, respectful, driven and knowledgeable. Then, we add three more traits that are, like the others, driven by passion to lead, such as:

  • Being authentic. People know it and respond to it when they see it. Just going through the motions rarely works long term.
  • Making unexpected connections. Some leaders see the even bigger picture and can move the puzzle pieces around in new and successful ways and the rest of us say, “Wow, how did she think of doing that?”
  • Ability to develop new leaders. Once in a leadership role, you are great if your people are great! Doing all you can do to see your people excel is an act of self-confidence that everyone can emulate.

Oftentimes, the most passion I see in class participants is when they tell their stories of an employee who has excelled under their supervision. It’s a priceless feeling and is exactly what passionate leaders do.

To learn more about the Association’s regionally recognized professional development classes, contact Lisa DeFilippo at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or visit the Professional Development page on www.mbausa.org.