Apr 30, 2019
by Ken Doyle
When we think about leaders, we instantly gravitate toward those individuals that stand out in our mind as inspirational. This could be for any number of reasons to you personally, however, one common denominator exists in every instance. Passion. You may have an interest in the cause a leader represents, but it is the passion that leader exhibits that inspires you to rally around a cause.
When you combine passion with purpose – that’s when leaders make a difference. Let’s explore that further, because the genesis of this combination of traits starts with asking one simple question: Why? Every leader asked this question, and then turned that question into a powerful purpose.
Let’s take a closer look at an example of a successful leader. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a gift. He knew how to inspire people. He also had a very powerful purpose. Dr. King knew that it would take people united by a single vision to make a difference in our country. On August 28, 1963, before a crowd of 250,000 plus people, he questioned equality. He challenged beliefs and provided a clear message to Washington that it was time for a change. He is recognized as one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century.
This is a very powerful example, but the approach can be applied to any given, “why.” Ask yourself, what is your “why?” Take a moment to think about the power of being passionate about the work you do. Now, think about the way that you phrased that “why” in your mind. If you start with the wrong question, or if you don’t understand the cause…even the right answers can steer you in the wrong direction. Let’s take a closer look at how phrasing the “why” changes things:
Think about the question: “Why am I in the business?”
Now, let’s rephrase that question: Why do I love this business so much?
If your answer changed, you probably gave some serious thought to what inspired you to enter this business in the beginning. That passion is the first step in developing your path as a successful leader. The next step is acting on it.
If you are interested in exploring the path of successful leadership, and how you can apply this to your business, contact your LISI Regional Sales Manager to request information on his CE Course, titled “Success Is a Team Sport.”
As the Senior Vice President of Sales at LISI, Ken Doyle has over three decades of experience in sales and marketing. He is past President of LAAHU and past Region VIII NAHU Membership Chair. He has also been a Chairman of the Board for the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and Foundation, as well as a member of Westlake Rotary.
