Here at Humanergy, we are passionate about what we do – helping leaders, teams and organizations thrive. We’d even go so far as to say that passion at work is a prerequisite for great leadership, team work and individual contribution. And it should also be said that, like many favorable traits, there is a “shadow side” to intense focus and resolve.
Todd Nordstrom writes on Inc., “I wondered, ‘Is passion–for your work, for your project, for proving you’re right about your ideas–always beneficial?'”
Passion can be harmful if:
You stop listening to others. Devotion to your idea may make you unwilling to listen to wise counsel.
You are willing to defend your idea by whatever means possible. Unproductive conflict often arises when people hold an idea too closely and defend it to the death (figuratively, of course).
You think zeal can make up for bad planning. Do be bold, and don’t rush in without a good strategy. Nordstrom says, “It’s like they believe their extreme passion will somehow overcompensate for the fact that they don’t have a plan, or they don’t have the knowledge.”
Check out Nordstrom’s post for more pitfalls of passion. Then you’ll understand why it’s important to live by one of our favorite mottos: Have strong opinions, loosely held.
We would love to hear stories of the many faces of passion at work. (Yes, work, please!) Comment below or message us.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash