Recently, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, political figures, business leaders and executives from around the world still had high expectations that the new American leadership could change the world in 2009. Wow! Nothing like carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. But we must ask why, and how, in about two years, an Illinois junior senator can go from working on state and local politics to engaging world leaders to believe in the hopes, dreams, and vitality that they can return. to exist. not only in the United States, but in the world. It’s about enthusiasm and passion.
Whether or not he supports the new administration, one thing is clear: President Obama invokes enthusiasm and passion in everything he does, from tackling the troubled economy and recession and foreign affairs to selecting the right school for his daughters and even finding the best dog to become part of the White House family. Despite some tough decisions, the president’s approval rating remains extremely high. Many on the right have even said that while they don’t necessarily support President Obama’s policies, they hope he will succeed. The bottom line is that any great leader, be it the leader of a local community, a small business, a Fortune 500 company, or the leader of the United States, must be passionate about hope for the future. The glass should always be half full.
When was the last time you woke up at 4 in the morning because you couldn’t wait to go to work? If we compare this level of excitement to our younger school days, you’ll recall that it was easy to wake up early on a Saturday when you knew you were going to the zoo, on family vacations, or playing with friends all day. . But when Monday morning came around, he grunted, hit the snooze button, and pulled the blankets over his head to hide from the world for a few more minutes. If you’re a leader, every day should feel like a Saturday, and your customers, suppliers, and employees should “feel” this from you.
Let’s take a look at how you can harness your enthusiasm and passion to become a great leader:
– Identify your passion. Hopefully it’s what you do every day, both personally and professionally. And while one might argue that you can’t be passionate about everything all the time, great leaders really are. The difference is that great leaders choose what to participate in and are passionate about their participation. However, they don’t get involved in everything that happens on your desk. They consciously select the ideas, projects and causes that are important to them and that will keep their dreams and goals moving forward positively.
– Lead with passion and others will follow. What makes you want to work even when you are exhausted and feeling drained? Whatever it is, let it show it to your customers, suppliers and employees. Whatever you like to do should be at your core: what else will get you out of bed on a Monday morning after working 60 hours the week before? If your followers understand what is important to you and can see the dedication and effort you put in, they will want to follow you wherever you take them.
– Find teammates with the same passion as you. Whether you’re a prospect, vendor, or employee, having like-minded people on your team will only increase the level of enthusiasm. If they all share the same core values, they will feed into each other to move the project or business idea forward. So build your team wisely. Talk to your prospects about what you are passionate about and ask them what gets them out of bed every morning.
– Spend time with your people. There is nothing worse than a CEO who sits in meetings all day behind closed doors and who is invisible to his team, regardless of how those people fit into the bigger picture. As a leader, you must be accessible to everyone. Hear what your customers have to say or what your employees think about the upcoming product launch or service installation. If they know that you really care about what they think and that they are part of the big picture, you can create powerful change.
– Frequently express your passions and core beliefs. The more you speak from your heart about what is critical and how it relates to the task at hand, the more optimism and enthusiasm you will inject into your team. In a way, you become a self-marketer of your visions and ideas, but at the root of that should be truth and reality. When combined, you have the formula to become a great leader.
During a recession, gray skies are easy to see. Looking on the bright side can be difficult. But your followers will be waiting for you to set the tone and exemplify the hope of what lies ahead. Having a purpose and passion is critical to sustaining and even building businesses during tough economic times. By being committed, passionate and excited about what you do, you will fuel the fire for those who choose to follow you to successful times.