A: Here’s a question: would you ever follow someone who seemed less invested in a particular outcome than you?
Is it even possible to follow someone who cares less than you?
In my experience, the answer to these questions is “No.” Leaders who are not invested in successful outcomes quickly lose their teams. The energy of the team dissapates and people get sidetracked. Or, the informal structure of the team becomes inverted, with subordinates leading their managers. Over the long haul, this is unsustainable.
Passion cannot be faked—it either exists or it doesn’t. People within an organization look upwards for their cues on how much of themselves to invest, and if a leader is not passionate, or tries to fake passion, then followers quickly learn to go through the motions.
If a leader is not energized, then the team simply cannot get going. Subordinates look to their leaders to help recharge their batteries… if the energy isn’t there, then the batteries stay dead! Think about it this way: if one of a leader’s jobs is to motivate his/her team, then by definition that leader must have enough energy to self-motivate and also motivate everyone else!
