Passion gives purpose, vitality and meaning to our lives and can help us find meaningful careers and compelling vocations

1. “Nothing
great in the
world has
been
accomplished
without
passion”
– G.W. Hegel, philosopher

2. Objectives
• To highlight the role of passion as a tool of success
and wellness for organisations and individuals
• To increase awareness of personal and work
related passions
• To develop strategies to minimise stress and
maximise enjoyment– for yourself and others

3. Structure of today’s session
(for those who like to know where they are going!)
90 minutes – blend of presentation
and practical exercises:
•The cry for passion – research findings
•“The Passion Pack “-tools and strategies to
increase passion
•Group activities using “The Passion Pack”
•Passion and you – personal passion plan

4. “We’re not a
happy lot”
•96% of employees would
consider changing jobs if a
better one came up
•50% of employees were
either unhappy or very
unhappy in their work
•Only 25% are happy in their
work
- NZ Management Magazine 2004

5. The
confused
passionless
plight of the
Kiwi
If he feels a passion
coming on,
he goes and paints a roof,
plants some potatoes,
joins another organisation,
forms a committee of his
own and has a drink or
pops a pill
– Gordon McLauchlan,
The Passionless People (1976)
“
”

7. PASSION
Intensity, fervour, fervidness,
ardour, zeal, vehemence, mania,
fire, emotion, feeling, zest,
enthusiasm, eagerness,
preoccupation, excitement,
animation, fixation, heart’s
desire, fascination, craze,
obsession.

8. Passion is for
everyone
Passion is about helping people
fulfill their potential. Everyone has
passion we just have to help them
take it out the drawer.
- HR manager, Tower
“
”

9. Pest
Controller
“
All the rats,
all the maggots,
all the
cockroaches all
over the place.
These are the
things I love
doing.
”

10. American
Civil War Buff
“
I began to walk
it and in my
head I heard
voices. ‘Steady!
Steady boys!
Dress on the
left. Move to the
left. Steady!
”

11. “
I’ve had so many
women say, ‘All you
think about is
music’, when if fact
it’s not all I think
about, I think about
a lot of things, but
this is what I’m
DJ
driven by.’ ”

12. LlamaLady
“
You see those big,
black eyes and
those big
eyelashes and they
look right in you
and they look right
into your soul and
they can know
whether you’re a
good ‘un or a bad
‘un.
”

14. The Passion Pack
- purpose
A guidance tool to help individuals discover
greater passion in work/life. It consists of
40 cards divided into 4 key areas:
• What is passion? Why is it important?
• How can you discover your passion?
• Career management strategies
• Overcoming passion barriers

15. Passion Pack
– aims
•Help people discover their passion
and passion criteria
•Develop strategies for career
advancement and work/life balance
•Help people take greater
responsibility for their lives
•Maximise wellness and satisfaction
in career/life
•Raise self-esteem, confidence and
energy

16. exercises

17. Consequences of Ignoring
Passion - Employees
More than 43% of employees are
dissatisfied with current role – TMP
survey
Causes - Under-using skills,
conflicted values and roles, lack of
control
Consequences - Depression, apathy,
stress, anger, blame, denial, ill-health

18. Consequences of
Ignoring Passion –
Organisations
• Absenteeism, stress leave
and sick days
• Low morale and co-worker
impact
• Retention issues
• Demotivated and inflexible
workforce

19. Consequences of
Ignoring Passion –
Organisations
•Increased personal grievance costs
•Increased use of EAP counselling
•Increased recruitment and retraining costs
•Lower productivity and performance

20. Passion is a cure
 Demotivation
 Depression
 Anxiety
 Apathy
 Resentment
 Lack of meaning and
purpose
 Anger
 Toxic workplaces
 Excites the brain and
stimulates the body
 Increases energy
 Greater Resilience
 Better work/life balance
 More meaning and
purpose
 Increases happiness and
well being
 Is infectious

21. Some Solutions
Don’t get mad, get a life!
“People should not put their work
above everything else, but put time
and energy into their families,
hobbies, and social activities.’
Professor Linden, on avoiding Post-Traumatic
Embitterment Disorder

22. Exercise:
Your Personal Passion Action
Plan (refer to hand out)
What are you passionate about?
How could you increase the level of
passion in your life?
How could you help others to pursue
their passion?

23. Welcome to the
passion zone!
•The first step to a happier and more fulfilled life
•On-going commitment
•Takes time and effort
•What are you prepared to give up for a more passionate life?
•Beware of the comfort rut!
•Beware of passion crushers
•Keep your cards handy
•Keep your passion alive! Thrive don’t just survive

24. There is no end.
There is no beginning.
There is only the
infinite passion of life.
Frederico Fellini
“
”

25. The most powerful weapon on
earth is the human soul on fire.
- Field Marshall Ferdinand
Foch
Life is given us as a passion.
- Jaques Barzun
“
”
“ ”