Passion Promotes Performance
Loving What You Do Helps Deliver Results
Photo by Bailey Alexander on Unsplash
You can excel in your craft without a deep love for it, but be warned: it’s quite challenging to achieve. If you are passionate about what you do, you will recognize it. Those who have reached and maintained greatness in their craft generally did so because of this passion. In leadership, regardless of the environment, those who understand what is truly required can relate, as doing it effectively demands both commitment and passion.
On a late work evening not long ago, while conducting a leadership climate assessment for a client, I sat in the office of one of their junior executives for a qualitative interview. Given the nature of their work and a time-sensitive product that needed to be prepared long after the workday had ended, I agreed with the executive to collect my data (asking the questions) while he worked in a way that minimized distractions. Completing my assessment was just as important to him as the crisis that had seemingly landed in his lap late that afternoon. He wanted me there with him, and after a while, I figured out why.
So I sat there, strategically asking questions while he stared intently at his computer screen. For hours, he had been tirelessly powering through a visual product to be reviewed by one of the company’s senior executives at the start of the next day. He was laser-focused on it, but not so focused that I couldn’t gather meaningful insights from him. I carefully navigated my questions, timing them perfectly to let him work without feeling overly pressured.
Eventually, I discovered that the work he was doing at that moment — preparing a slide deck for senior executives at the last minute — was something he frequently did almost every day. This company had a knack for creating chaos for itself, and the junior executives seemed to be the ones left to handle it. Their turnover rates were horrendous, and I learned that three others had held his role in just two years. As I sat there asking him questions while he pecked away at the PowerPoint slide, editing every word and image repeatedly, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was truly how he wanted to spend that moment in his life, given the pressure on him to deliver.
Then I asked him directly, “Is this really what you want to be doing right now?” It was a fair question aimed at eliciting genuine emotion. I wanted to understand his thoughts, and based on my assessment of the company up to that point, I already knew the organization was in disarray. The company’s president was aware of it too; that’s why he hired me. After my question, the executive looked at me, shocked that I had the audacity to ask, and replied, “There’s no place I’d rather be than doing this right here!”
His response was bold, and I took it at face value. Then I asked him to clarify whether he meant the place or the position, and he confirmed it was the position. This particular junior executive didn’t have to be there; he left a comfortable role with similar benefits elsewhere to embrace this opportunity because he truly loved that role, chaos and all. He knew exactly what he was getting into, and the senior executive who recruited him understood that thriving in chaos and dysfunction was his specialty. It seemed like a match made in heaven.
Was it healthy? Doesn’t matter. It’s what he wanted to be doing — end of story.
His response, “There’s no place I’d rather be,” reminded me of something I heard years ago while watching HBO’s Hard Knocks, which chronicled the preseason training for the Dallas Cowboys. In one episode of the series, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones welcomed his team to their training camp in California by saying, “There’s no place I’d rather be than right here with the Dallas Cowboys.” You can say what you want about Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, or even the NFL — this isn’t about that. It’s about recognizing the power of working within your passion, which I believe Mr. Jones embodies. He loves being with his Dallas Cowboys. For the junior executive, that passion was putting in long hours each evening preparing products (PowerPoint slides, Excel tables, Word documents) for someone to whom he felt loyal. To some extent, it was his happy place. When you’re passionate about something, it can be difficult to recognize when you’re grinding in low gear because it feels more like you’re cruising in high gear.
The late, great Kobe Bryant once told a journalist that on Christmas Day, he cherished watching his daughters open presents and seeing the joy on their faces. Yet, at the same time, he could hardly get through those moments, as he admitted he really wanted to head downtown to Los Angeles and prepare for that day’s NBA game at Staples Center. Here you have one of the greatest of all time, confessing his love for every moment of the Christmas morning routine with his family, and at the earliest opportunity after, leaving ahead of schedule to get a jump on his passion because he simply couldn’t wait to do so.
So, what does it mean to work within your passion? It begins with asking yourself, “Is this what I want to be doing at this stage of my career?” If the answer is yes, consider, “What do I love about my work?” Next, write down whatever comes to mind. It might be the nature of the work, the projects you take on, or the tools you use. It’s also important to reflect on whether you would be willing to do the same kind of work in different situations, such as with a different employer, in a different location, or under different leadership. In other words, do you value your work enough to feel satisfied if any combination of those three factors changed? If so, you’re likely pursuing your passion. If not, you may genuinely enjoy what you do, but certain external factors might be impacting your happiness.
Conversely, if you’re not pursuing your passion, it’s time for some reflection. Maybe you’re just going through the motions. But if that’s the case, are you truly giving your best? Let’s look at it from a different perspective. Have you ever been part of a team filled with individuals who didn’t want to be there or weren’t necessarily fully committed to the work, or been led by someone uninterested in their role? I have. We all have. Let me get personal: I’ve been that uninspired team member, and even worse, I’ve led a team when I wasn’t fully engaged. In neither situation was I doing anyone any favors, including myself.
When you’re unmotivated, not only do you lack enthusiasm for the work, but you might also alienate a peer or subordinate who may not yet recognize their own potential. In other words, your real or perceived negativity can impact someone who otherwise belongs and wants to be there but doesn’t yet realize it, which could influence their decision-making. This not only harms the team and organization, but over time, it can also be detrimental to you. It can affect your well-being and, professionally, your marketability. When you lack passion, it shows, no matter how hard you try to hide it. Even worse, you won’t be able to perform to the fullest of your potential. My recommendation is to seek the work and environment where you can thrive and find happiness. I understand this is easier said than done, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The executive I interviewed was exactly where he wanted to be and doing what he loved. That was his happy place. He made this clear to me both verbally and nonverbally, and I applaud him for recognizing it. I also commend his leadership for bringing him on board. However, that executive was not recruited by the firm to thrive in chaos. He was, in fact, brought in to untangle the chaos, and working on the products he developed late at night was part of that process. I learned these details later that evening over dinner with him. His passion was to work within flawed environments and improve them, and he was exceptional at it. Kudos to him for doing what he loved in an industry he cherished and for people he valued.
Kobe Bryant loved the game so much that he spent the majority of his days preparing for it. In doing so, he achieved extraordinary results, which matched his high expectations. You can substitute any profession or industry for basketball. Just like Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players ever, when you love what you do, you’ll approach it with the care, effort, and passion necessary to excel at it, too.