Personal Effectiveness Tips

- Follow that passion! You've probably heard that advice a few thousand times. Passion in the workplace is great, of course. We all love people who are engaged with their jobs and committed to their ideas. But honestly, it sometimes can go too far. We can all probably think of times when colleagues got so heated defending their pet projects that they alienated everyone else or wouldn't listen to critical information, because they were so invested in their own ideas, they just didn't want to hear it. There are some real downsides to being too passionate at work.

So to avoid alienating people and instead leverage the best of what it means to be passionate, here's what you should be aware of. First, don't paint a black and white scenario. If you really believe in something, it's easy to ignore or demonize the opposition. You know you should open the new office in Chicago, not Los Angeles, so obviously, the people on the other side must be ignorant or biased or stupid, right? They could be, but it's far more likely they interpret the data differently and are just trying as hard as you are to make a good decision for the company.

Being overly dramatic and eliminating all nuances doesn't make you more persuasive. It makes you less because you sound like you have an agenda. It's also important not to assume you know where others stand. One of the downsides of passion is that it can fuel a sense of false certainty. You know the truth. You know how things really are. Of course, that's mostly an illusion. And you may have no idea how your colleagues feel about an idea. And even if you support something and they don't, you may not really understand what's behind their opposition.

You can't jump to conclusions. Instead of getting overheated, step back and ask more questions and try to see their perspective. It's possible there may be a compromise you can forge or a way you can allay their concerns rather than just trying to steamroll them which they're going to resent. Finally, one of the worst things you can do for your credibility is to launch into your script. If you have a hobbyhorse and you keep returning to it, We have to launch this program, We have to launch this program, you are quickly going to be branded as way too passionate about your idea, and your perspective will be discounted even if there's real merit there.

No one wants to feel lectured at. And if you're constantly returning to the same themes and bringing up your idea even when it's not relevant or it's not the subject under discussion, people will come to resent it. You'll find yourself branded the office fanatic, even if you're advocating for something sensible. You have to choose your time and place and make sure others are in a zone where they're open to listening. If folks are trying to solve another pressing problem and you're bringing up your pet issue again, it only harms your cause. Passion is a powerful force. It can inspire you on to greatness.

But if you're showing too much of it and you can't let go, that'll hurt you in the end. By following these strategies, you can better gauge when to make your case and when to lay off.