In the 1930s, Japan’s leaders came to believe with great passion and certainty that it was their country’s destiny to dominate Asia. Towards realizing this ambition, they pursued aggressive expansionist policies, which drew their nation into broader conflicts. This mindset and a gross underestimation of American might led to an attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. This passionate yet strategically flawed decision to attack Hawaii significantly shaped the course of World War II and had lasting consequences for Japan and the world.
While Japan’s untrammelled passion and hubris had a global impact, we too, as leaders, can ask if passion is leading us astray. Here are a few regrettable things that can happen if we pursue our goals with unchecked passion:
- Tunnel vision: Great passion for your work may cause you to develop a narrow focus as you go deep within your field. This can result in a lack of curiosity on what is going on in areas adjacent to yours. You stop asking for feedback and you develop a myopic view of your job. In other words, you start missing the forest for the trees, and this can lead to missed opportunities in a world that is increasingly inter-connected in many ways.
- Resistance to change. Being very passionate about the way you work today can make you less willing to accept that there may be better or different ways. This pitfall gets exacerbated when you have succeeded very well using tried and tested ways. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, generally a good guiding principle in life, can also blind us to what needs to change.
- Imbalance in life: If you truly enjoy your job, you are one of the fortunate ones. But if you give it your all, you are, by definition, neglecting personal relationships, your health and hobbies. Learning to draw boundaries and living a fuller life will make you happier, more resilient and more fun to be around.
- Over-invested in one’s work: If you define who you are by what you do, (I confess I have been guilty of this), any success at work will make you ecstatic and any setbacks can put you in the doldrums. To remain calm and objective, a little distance is a good thing. And, senior leaders would do well to reflect on what they will do after they move on from their current position.
Is passion wrong then? Surely, there is nothing wrong in being passionate about your work, your job, your role? Successful leaders, when asked what does it take to do well in this world, will invariably include the word ‘passion’ in their response. It is generally seen as a positive trait, the antidote to malaise and what leads to greater job satisfaction, productivity and creativity.
“Passion” comes from the Latin word ‘passio’ which literally means “to suffer”. This is why we see passionate people working hard and making sacrifices to achieve their goals. With perspective and balance, passion is a blessing. But left unchecked, passion can lead to blind spots, irrational or ego-driven decisions, and hubris.
So, here’s a check for you. Do you seek feedback on your decisions? Do you seek counsel from those who are unafraid to speak the truth? Does your passion give you clarity and focus or does it tend to blind you to the realities of your environment?