Without passion, leaders, managers and spokespersons fail to inspire. If people can’t see how much you care, why should they care? I coach individuals to communicate their passion and conviction.
And yet…my 20-year old son is helping me understand how passion can sometimes paralyze instead of persuade. As a very political individual with strongly held beliefs, values and opinions, these mid-term elections have absolutely consumed me. I screech at the TV during the non-stop political ads. I grunt to myself as I read the latest polls and pundits’ predictions. I’ve started to rant in political discussions with people who hold different opinion and even like-minded friends find the temperature of my discourse far too hot. I’ve now taken that dangerous step beyond passion. It’s almost as if this usually reasonable communication expert temporarily has a sign on my chest that warns people not to approach. My husband and I were invited to dinner this weekend but the host wondered if I’d want to come because she and I hope for different outcomes next Tuesday.
My flawed rationale is that I care so deeply – am so passionate – about what I believe that I can’t temper my response. My very wise son observed that if my goal is just to rant I am absolutely hugely successful. But if my goal is to help persuade others to my political perspective, my all consuming passion is far from effective.
My son has reminded me that:
- Passion together with purpose leads to success.
- Passion that obliterates another way of thinking poisons any hopes for rational discourse.
- Successful communication always requires respectful listening…especially when our own passionate positions make it really, really hard to feel respectful or listen.
I will try very hard to take a deep breath and engage in passionate but also purposeful and persuasive discourse between now and Tuesday.
