Passionate leaders, driven by passionate beliefs, draw passionate followers!
Leaders are called to develop many qualities, but the one thing that drives them right to the front, is passion.
Soren Kierkegaard the philosopher, who gave rise to what became known as existentialism, or the importance of the individual’s experience, contrasts passion with mere” flashes of enthusiasm”. Passion is not a temporary state of mind, it is the constant source of energy for the leader, and the greatest cause of attraction, for the follower. Passion cannot be artificially manufactured, if authentic, it naturally shines through, as convictions come to life, and as people share the passion, join together as one. We cannot buy passion, nor can we simply decide to be passionate. Passion must arise out of conviction!
Passion arises naturally or not at all. It happens when convictions come to life, and deep beliefs drive visions and plans.
The passionate leader is driven by the knowledge that the right beliefs, aimed at the right opportunity, can lead to earth shaking changes. The leaders who are most transformative and effective, are those who believe most deeply in what they are doing. Passionate leaders attract and motivate passionate followers, and together, they build passionate movements.
Passionate leadership must learn what Latin American writer Mario Vargas Llosa calls “the language of passion”. When trouble or challenge is confronted, the passionate leader responds consistently with the convictions, in order to protect the passion.
So, leadership, convictional leadership, requires a large dose of passion, to succeed. That is to say, unbridled passion.