The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Passion

We continue our learning and growing with the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. This book carries the subtitle: "Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow".

Everything rises and falls on leadership. And leadership truly develops from the inside out. If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the leader you want to be on the outside. People will want to follow you.

Quality #12 - Passion: take this life and love it.

“When a leader reaches out in passion, he is usually met with an answering passion." - John C. Maxwell

What makes it possible for people who might seem ordinary to achieve great things? The answer is passion. Nothing can take the place of passion in a leader's life.

Take a look at four truths about passion and what it can do for you as a leader:

1. Passion is the First Step to Achievement.
   1. Your desire determines your destiny.
   2. Anyone who lives beyond an ordinary life has great desire.
   3. The stronger your fire, the greater the desire - and greater the potential.
2. Passion Increases Your Willpower.
   1. There is no substitute for passion.
   2. It is the fuel for the will.
   3. If you want anything badly enough, you can find the willpower to achieve it.
   4. The only way to have that kind of desire is to develop passion.
3. Passion Changes You. 
   1. If you follow your passion - instead of others' perceptions - you can't help becoming a more dedicated, productive person.
   2. In the end, your passion will have more influence than your personality.
4. Passion Makes the Impossible Possible.
   1. Human beings are so made that whenever anything fires the soul, impossibilities vanish.
   2. A fire in the heart lifts everything in your life.
   3. A leader with great passion and few skills always outperforms a leader with great skills and no passion.

The truth is that you can never lead something you don't care passionately about. You can't start a fire in your organization unless one is burning in you.

“Concentrate on what you do well, and do it better than anybody else." - John "Papa John" Schnatter

Bringing it home:

1. Take Your Temperature.
   1. You won't become passionate until you believe passion can be the difference maker in your life.
2. Return to Your First Love.
   1. Think back to when you were just starting out in your career - or even further back to when you were a child. What really turned your crank?
   2. Try to recapture your old enthusiasm.
   3. Then evaluate your life and career in light of those old loves.
3. Associate with People of Passion.
1. Passion is contagious.
2. Schedule some time with people who can infect you with it.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc