This approach sounds paradoxical but it can work. It is to be dispassionate when following your passion. It is then to be disciplined and do your best to achieve the desired positive results.
Great workers recognise that their passion can provide positive energy and be a great help. At the same time, however, it can cloud their ability to make good decisions and affect their discipline.
Bearing this in mind, some people may aim become calm and clear when pursuing things they feel passionately about. They then channel their passion in a disciplined way and aim to deliver the desired results.
Different people follow this approach in different ways. Sometimes it involves focusing on the following themes.
They Aim To
Be Dispassionate
Great workers sometimes follow a passion where they have the ability to deliver peak performances. This can be a good start but sometimes this can cloud their judgement.
How to manage this emotion? One approach is to become more dispassionate when following their passion. It is to balance being caring with also being calm and cerebral
A doctor in Accident & Emergency will immediately treat any life-threating condition. At the same time, however, they will aim to see the big picture and gather information about the person’s injuries.
Some football coaches show their passion by prowling the touchline. They yell at their players and have arguments with the officials. Sometimes this works but can affect the quality of their decision making.
Some coaches take a more scientific approach. They stay calm, observe what is happening and look for patterns. When appropriate, they give clear instructions that the players can use to influence the game.
Different people choose different ways to be dispassionate when following their passion. Some focus on following the next theme.
They Aim To
Be Disciplined
Great workers may start their careers by demonstrating certain talents. They may produce moments of creativity that get them noticed or enable them to make breakthroughs.
Such people may only progress further, however, if they are able to demonstrate consistency. Sometimes this calls for them aiming to follow certain disciplines.
How to take this step? One approach is for them to learn from their best performances. Looking back at their positive history, it is for them to explore the following questions.
When have I done superb work in the past? When were the specific occasions that I did such work and delivered success?
What did I do right then? What were the principles I followed? How did I translate these into action? What happened as a result?
How can I follow these principles to do consistently superb work? What else may I need to do to always perform at my best and deliver success?
Great workers focus on the results they want to achieve – the destination. They then aim to follow certain daily disciplines that will increase the chances of achieving these goals.
Some people do this when following their passion as artists, athletes, dancers or in other kinds of work. They aim to maintain consistently high professional standards. They then focus on the following theme.
They Aim To Achieve The
Desired Positive Results
Great workers are sometimes good at seeing things in perspective and at priority management. Some start by clarifying their personal life goals. They then aim to do something each day to work towards achieving these life goals.
Some clarify the specific things they want to have done or achieved by the end of their professional career. They then keep focusing on these when doing their daily work or making decisions about the next step in their career.
Different people do this in different ways. Some do the following exercise to make sure they are focusing on their long-term goals whilst also doing their best each day.
Great workers are also good at priority management. Some follow this approach by exploring the following themes.
Positive Results
What the positive results I want to achieve in my life or work? What will be the benefits – for myself and other people – of achieving these results?
Priority Management
What are the top priorities – such as the top three things – I want to focus on that will increase the chances of achieving these positive results?
Practical Steps
What are the practical things I can do to focus on these priorities and do my best to achieve the desired positive results?
Great workers sometimes go through certain stages in their careers. They get hired for their passion, promoted for their professionalism and build a reputation for being strategic and having perspective.
Passion
A person may pursue an activity they feel passionately about where they have the ability to do superb work. They convey this enthusiasm during interviews and get hired to do work where they can use their expertise.
Professionalism
The person produces fine work. Gaining a reputation for delivering high professional standards, they climb the career ladder. They may continue to specialise or move into a management or leadership role.
Perspective
The person begins to attend senior leadership meetings. Still feeling strongly about their chosen work, they may behave in either of the following ways.
Some individuals may convey their passion by communicating in ways that are not unhelpful. They may argue strongly for their chosen projects, defend their territory or may even criticise other departments.
Some may show they understand the big picture and have perspective. Whilst still passionate about their work, they see things from the whole company point of view.
Such individuals may gain a reputation as somebody who thinks strategically and makes considered decisions. This can lead to them acting a trusted advisor to people who want to learn from their knowledge.
Many people feel passionately about things. Some also develop a sense of perspective about life. They recognise that they are small in the great sweep of history.
Such people do not see themselves as important. They recognise that their actions are important, however, because these can affect other people. They therefore try to do positive things during their time on the planet.
There are many ways to do fine work. One approach is to be dispassionate when following your passion. It is then to be disciplined and do your best to get positive results.
Let’s return to your own life and work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of this approach? How can you do this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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