Passion
Passion
Held an offsite meeting with a client over this past weekend, primarily to media train four of their employers (CEO, CFO, VP Markting, and Director Marketing).
After the first hour of training, we started the typical role playing that you do. It quickly became apparant that much work was going to be needed with two of the trainee's, and one was NOT the CEO.
After another hour of this, we took a break.
The CEO and I spoke about this during that break. Yes, they were rough, yes, they couldn't think so quickly on their feet, and yes, that is what we were there for, for the CEO to refine and keep the edge, but, to bring the others up to speed so they could help him do media tours, etc (and free up his valuable time).
But, I stated that all of this was irrelevant - knowing what to say when, knowing how to take control of the discussion, how to segui, how to lead, etc. if they didn't have the passion.
Passion? Yes, passion. Passion for the job, for the product, and for speaking publicly.
It is true that a lot of people can't speak, let alone speak publicly. You can lead a horse, but...
It is also true that alot of people love their jobs, or love the product or service that their company provides (and yes, sometimes it is NOT both).
And, finally, it is true that you can teach someone to speak publicly (maybe not perfect, but, "good enough"). That you can get someone to love their job, through financial incentives, 100 vacation days a year, etc. And you can get someone to love their companies product/service (like by giving them the latest new flat panel TV every time they come out with one, minimum of three a year and they can give away the previous TV's (wow, wouldn't that be a cool job)).
But, you can't teach passion. It is more then love. It is something that comes from the soul.
You can see, when the person is speaking, or doing their job, or whatever, that they throw their heart, their soul, their conscience, into it - trying to make perfection.
Let me put it even easier - you can tell when someone has passion for their work when they beat themselves up before anyone else has a chance because of a mistake they made.
They added the numbers wrong, they said the wrong thing in an interview, they missed the typo in the 10,000 word presentation. You would think they were suicidal about it.
That is passion. The pride, the love, the desire to do it right, not only the first time, but EVERY TIME.
So, what am I trying to say? From speaking with the media to answer the phone on your desk - do so with passion. Do it with love. Do it with the desire and knowledge that what you are doing is making you (and your company) a more professional organization - AND - a company that many outsiders will be jealous of.
So, the CEO and I decided to remove one of the people from media training - because they would never have the passion for doing it, and work with the other so that their passion would grow and they would become an outstanding professional for the company.
(By the way, when you do this - being passionate - don't be surprised if your personal life becomes more passionate and opportunities will start to come your way.)