by Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters Corp.
“Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” ~George Bernard Shaw
Leadership is passion. Without passion, a person will have very little influence as a leader. I believe passion provides an individual with the light of leadership and creates an undeniable drive to make a difference.
Consider the legacy of historical leaders like J.F.K., Mother Teresa, or Abraham Lincoln. They are regarded as great leaders because they passionately worked to help others. In the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell said "leadership is about influence - nothing more, nothing less." This moves beyond defining the leader to looking at the ability of the leader to influence others. Indirectly, it also builds upon leadership character, since without maintaining integrity and trustworthiness, the capability to influence will disappear.
Leadership is not achieved by those who speak the most eloquently, command the most attention or win the most awards. Rather, leadership is one’s ability to influence and help others – as Maxwell notes above. I believe this philosophy needs to be emphasized more in our society today, particularly as it relates to leadership development in youth. We often reward young people for “face value” leadership activities rather than really focusing on skills to draw a team together and move the group forward. For example, students with polished speaking skills or athletic prowess are often awarded with leadership positions without determining their abilities as a leader.
One only has to look at the demise of business ethics to see the results of “face value” leadership. True leaders combine absolute integrity with an innate ability to unite a group around a central cause. Warren Bennis said "Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens, people feel centered and that gives their work meaning."
This “meaning” is essential to the happiness of an individual, whether they are working for a large corporation, volunteering for a non-profit, or developing their own business. After all, human naturally desire to make a positive contribution to society; a lasting impacting both on both the present and future. I believe great leaders recognize that need, draw upon it, and use it to engage individuals in their cause. Essentially, they draw others to the flame of their passion!
Unfortunately, the passion that fuels leadership can be used for both good and evil. One hour visiting a concentration camp leaves an everlasting picture of how Hitler’s passion influenced thousands to create mass human devastation. Osama Bin Laden offers a modern day example of a leader that left an indelible impression on a generation who never before experienced war on our land. While I do not advocate such destruction, it is my opinion that September 11th served as a wake-up call for widespread apathy across the United States.
Many positive examples of leadership were found in that tragic day, yet there was one figure that consistently stood out from the dust settling around the twin towers. Passion for the U.S.A., America’s freedom, and our inherent independence defined Rudy Giuliani’s leadership legacy. Like many great leaders in world history, Giuliani’s legacy was defined by leading through a crisis.
Impassioned leadership gave Giuliani the courage to face the unthinkable in his beloved city. We should all learn from the leadership examples of September 11th that finding our personal passion allows us to influence individuals at a level we might not believe. As Eleanor Roosevelt said “You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.”
We need to remember those lessons as we are challenged with economic uncertainty, information overload, and increasing apathy. Now is the time when we must find ways to extract that passion and create more leaders of influence. After all, if we are to pass on the splendid torch noted in George Bernard Shaw’s quote to future generations, we need to ensure it is burning as brightly as possible. Passion is the light of the leadership torch that will help guide the way now and in the future!
Michele empowers organizations to develop solutions for a changing marketplace. She founded Cause Matters Corp. to help people learn to champion their cause! Receive Michele's free monthly "Connections" e-newsletter filled with lively commentary and leadership insight by e-mailing newsletter@mpk.info.
“Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” ~George Bernard Shaw
Leadership is passion. Without passion, a person will have very little influence as a leader. I believe passion provides an individual with the light of leadership and creates an undeniable drive to make a difference.
Consider the legacy of historical leaders like J.F.K., Mother Teresa, or Abraham Lincoln. They are regarded as great leaders because they passionately worked to help others. In the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell said "leadership is about influence - nothing more, nothing less." This moves beyond defining the leader to looking at the ability of the leader to influence others. Indirectly, it also builds upon leadership character, since without maintaining integrity and trustworthiness, the capability to influence will disappear.
Leadership is not achieved by those who speak the most eloquently, command the most attention or win the most awards. Rather, leadership is one’s ability to influence and help others – as Maxwell notes above. I believe this philosophy needs to be emphasized more in our society today, particularly as it relates to leadership development in youth. We often reward young people for “face value” leadership activities rather than really focusing on skills to draw a team together and move the group forward. For example, students with polished speaking skills or athletic prowess are often awarded with leadership positions without determining their abilities as a leader.
One only has to look at the demise of business ethics to see the results of “face value” leadership. True leaders combine absolute integrity with an innate ability to unite a group around a central cause. Warren Bennis said "Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens, people feel centered and that gives their work meaning."
This “meaning” is essential to the happiness of an individual, whether they are working for a large corporation, volunteering for a non-profit, or developing their own business. After all, human naturally desire to make a positive contribution to society; a lasting impacting both on both the present and future. I believe great leaders recognize that need, draw upon it, and use it to engage individuals in their cause. Essentially, they draw others to the flame of their passion!
Unfortunately, the passion that fuels leadership can be used for both good and evil. One hour visiting a concentration camp leaves an everlasting picture of how Hitler’s passion influenced thousands to create mass human devastation. Osama Bin Laden offers a modern day example of a leader that left an indelible impression on a generation who never before experienced war on our land. While I do not advocate such destruction, it is my opinion that September 11th served as a wake-up call for widespread apathy across the United States.
Many positive examples of leadership were found in that tragic day, yet there was one figure that consistently stood out from the dust settling around the twin towers. Passion for the U.S.A., America’s freedom, and our inherent independence defined Rudy Giuliani’s leadership legacy. Like many great leaders in world history, Giuliani’s legacy was defined by leading through a crisis.
Impassioned leadership gave Giuliani the courage to face the unthinkable in his beloved city. We should all learn from the leadership examples of September 11th that finding our personal passion allows us to influence individuals at a level we might not believe. As Eleanor Roosevelt said “You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.”
We need to remember those lessons as we are challenged with economic uncertainty, information overload, and increasing apathy. Now is the time when we must find ways to extract that passion and create more leaders of influence. After all, if we are to pass on the splendid torch noted in George Bernard Shaw’s quote to future generations, we need to ensure it is burning as brightly as possible. Passion is the light of the leadership torch that will help guide the way now and in the future!
Michele empowers organizations to develop solutions for a changing marketplace. She founded Cause Matters Corp. to help people learn to champion their cause! Receive Michele's free monthly "Connections" e-newsletter filled with lively commentary and leadership insight by e-mailing newsletter@mpk.info.
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