FollowtheLeader.indd

LEADERS ARE PASSIONATE

Once again, diffusion produces confusion – both in the life of the leader and
in the follower. A fractured passion in the leader results in a fragmentation
of passion in the life of the follower.

Principle:

“ You can never lead something you

don’t care passionately about.”^17

(John Maxwell)

We can clearly see that you cannot separate passion from vision. For the
leader, it is the vision that is the source of his passion. And, the greater the vision,
the greater the passion! Fred Smith wonderfully expresses this relationship
between passion and vision – and shows us how it practically works itself
out in the corporate life of an organizations:

The clearer the vision, the more focused the passion. If the vision

becomes blurred, the passion becomes dissipated and weakened. In

an organization where everyone buys into and fully understands

the passion and purpose, all effort is unified with high energy.

An organization without passion is a car without gasoline,

a rocket without fuel. Two organizations may have the same

general vision, but the one with the deeper passion will have the

greater accomplishment. A pure passion turns the ordinary into the

extraordinary.^18

Principle:

“A great leader’s courage to fulfi ll his

vision comes from passion, not position.”^19

(John Maxwell)

Noted church consultant, Lyle Schaller, echoes the same thing about
passion and vision:

If a pastor does not have a passion for the mission, he can forget

the rest of leadership. A passion to make a worthwhile difference

is indispensable to effectiveness. Passion and vision need to work

together. Passion energizes vision, and vision disciplines the

passion. The clearer the vision, the greater the passion. The closer