Passionate Performance
Danielle West
Strategic Initiative Business Manager & Women’s Forum Lead at Ingram Micro
Highlights from the book by Lee J. Colan
Passionate performance is demonstrated by a strong, sustained intellectual and emotional attachment to one’s work. It is made visible through enthusiasm and seeing results. People choose to do more because they have fun. This happens when a person’s intellectual and emotional needs are fulfilled.
Intellectual needs are fulfilled by engaging the mind and result in high performance. There are 3 intellectual needs that need to be fulfilled. When a person regularly experiences achievement, autonomy, and mastery, a self-reinforcing cycle of improvement, growth, and high performance is created.
- Achievement – Outcome: eliminate barriers to achievement and define crystal clear goals
- Autonomy – Process: improve the process and establish broad, yet clear boundaries
- Mastery – Specialty: fit person to position for highest, best use and create a learning environment
Emotional needs are fulfilled by engaging the heart and result in passion. There are 3 emotional needs that need to be fulfilled. When a person regularly experiences purpose, intimacy, and appreciation, they form strong relationships that create amazing results.
- Purpose – Cause: create a compelling purpose and focus on activities that directly support it
- Intimacy – Connection: maintain small teams to build strong relations and create team rituals
- Appreciation – Recognition: find opportunities to express contributions and to be sincerely interested in each person
Implementation Ideas:
- Look for opportunities for your team to master key skills
- Define goals for each person (eliminate the primary barrier to achievement)
- Find a reason every day to recognize someone on your team
- Implement a structured selection process to ensure a good fit between each person and position
- Ask the team what changes they can make to be certain we stay focused on our purpose