Jack Welch was one of the most prominent businessmen in America for several decades.
He is famous for many endeavors and successes, and led General Electric as their C.
E.
O.
and President from 1981 to 2001.
His book, Winning, was considered one of the more important books written about succeeding in business and in life.
To me, one of his most relevant quotes was, "The world belongs to passionate driven people.
" In my over three decades of working closely with many leaders, one of the traits shared by the most effective and successful leaders is their passion for what they did.
Many people mention how motivation and motivating others is so essential a part of effective leadership.
However, there is a fine line between those that actually motivate others and those who simply repeat motivational rhetoric and cliches.
Rhetoric and cliches rarely engage anyone's imagination for any significant or long lasting period of time, and rarely do leaders who are simply using this as a tactic have lasting success.
While motivating others is essential to being effective, it is only when others can experience a leader's zeal and passion that they become moved to action.
Motivating others only has a real impact when that motivation leads someone to following a leader's vision, and that generally only occurs when the vision and sentiments are real and genuine.
When one thinks of a leader's passion, it is important to understand the relevant definitions of that word, which can be used in many other circumstances as well.
Dictionary.
com gives two definitions of the word "passion" that are relevant to leadership: 1) Any very strong emotion; and 2) enthusiasm.
Think of how impactful former President Bill Clinton was when he would bite on his lip, and simply say, "I feel your pain.
" His passion, whether genuine or not, appeared evident for all that viewed, and he was therefore extremely effective in moving others to his vision.
On the other hand, a review of the historic televised debates between John F.
Kennedy and Richard M.
Nixon in 1960, made Nixon appear cold and dispassionate, and many political observers cite Nixon's appearance of being both dispassionate and untrustworthy as the key turning point in that very close campaign.
Passion is even a more important factor in smaller organizations.
Most people can easily overlook and forget disagreements about policy, etc.
, when it comes to differences of opinion, especially if the individual with the opposing view appears truly passionate about his vision and beliefs.
When a leader discusses his vision on a small group or one to one basis, what he says is almost never as important as to how passionately he states his belief.
Beware however, that there is sometimes a fine line between being passionate and obnoxious and overbearing, so leaders should be advised to control their passion so as to exhibit its valuable side and why it drives you, while avoiding condescending behavior, etc.
Those leaders who are truly passionate, and can get that passion across to others, so as to motivate them to action, are nearly always the most effective.
He is famous for many endeavors and successes, and led General Electric as their C.
E.
O.
and President from 1981 to 2001.
His book, Winning, was considered one of the more important books written about succeeding in business and in life.
To me, one of his most relevant quotes was, "The world belongs to passionate driven people.
" In my over three decades of working closely with many leaders, one of the traits shared by the most effective and successful leaders is their passion for what they did.
Many people mention how motivation and motivating others is so essential a part of effective leadership.
However, there is a fine line between those that actually motivate others and those who simply repeat motivational rhetoric and cliches.
Rhetoric and cliches rarely engage anyone's imagination for any significant or long lasting period of time, and rarely do leaders who are simply using this as a tactic have lasting success.
While motivating others is essential to being effective, it is only when others can experience a leader's zeal and passion that they become moved to action.
Motivating others only has a real impact when that motivation leads someone to following a leader's vision, and that generally only occurs when the vision and sentiments are real and genuine.
When one thinks of a leader's passion, it is important to understand the relevant definitions of that word, which can be used in many other circumstances as well.
Dictionary.
com gives two definitions of the word "passion" that are relevant to leadership: 1) Any very strong emotion; and 2) enthusiasm.
Think of how impactful former President Bill Clinton was when he would bite on his lip, and simply say, "I feel your pain.
" His passion, whether genuine or not, appeared evident for all that viewed, and he was therefore extremely effective in moving others to his vision.
On the other hand, a review of the historic televised debates between John F.
Kennedy and Richard M.
Nixon in 1960, made Nixon appear cold and dispassionate, and many political observers cite Nixon's appearance of being both dispassionate and untrustworthy as the key turning point in that very close campaign.
Passion is even a more important factor in smaller organizations.
Most people can easily overlook and forget disagreements about policy, etc.
, when it comes to differences of opinion, especially if the individual with the opposing view appears truly passionate about his vision and beliefs.
When a leader discusses his vision on a small group or one to one basis, what he says is almost never as important as to how passionately he states his belief.
Beware however, that there is sometimes a fine line between being passionate and obnoxious and overbearing, so leaders should be advised to control their passion so as to exhibit its valuable side and why it drives you, while avoiding condescending behavior, etc.
Those leaders who are truly passionate, and can get that passion across to others, so as to motivate them to action, are nearly always the most effective.
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