12 Tips to Show More Passion at Work

Do you feel passionate about the work that you do?

It is easy to tell who has a passion for their work simply by observing their behavior and performance.

Around 88% of employees report that they do not have passion for their work, and these individuals admit that it impedes their working to their full potential.

It could be that the issue lies in management; are team supervisors cultivating passion at work among the team?

Sadly, 80% of senior workplace managers surveyed report having no passion for the job.

To inspire and motivate, you need charismatic leaders who foster and help their entire workforce feel passionate about a job well done. Does your supervisor demonstrate a passion for the job?

Here are 12 practical tips on how to show more passion for your work.

• Be Proactive
• Be a Brainstormer
• Expand Expertise
• Invest in Personal Growth
• Consider the Team
• Look Professional
• Be a Problem-Solver
• Know the Competition
• Stay on Top of Trends
• Work at Work
• Represent the Company
• Be Prepared and Prompt

Be Proactive

Think ahead and take the bull by the horns when it comes to getting tasks done. Don’t wait around for someone else to offer. Jump in and get started. Passionate employees are excited by new opportunities, even if it means more responsibility.

Be a Brainstormer

Try to think of new or fresh ideas to bring to the job. Talk to supervisors about your ideas to obtain feedback, which also demonstrates your passion for work. Listen carefully to their input and continue to brainstorm.

Expand Expertise

Show passion for what you do by expanding your knowledge and expertise. This may entail reading industry publications to stay on top of the field or, through continued education, to hone your skills. Talk with others in your field to learn from their experiences, too. Joining industry associations is an excellent way to network and initiate growth.

Invest in Personal Growth

Make an effort to invest in yourself with ways to spur personal growth. Take classes, go to retreats, take time for self-care, and tune your professional image to show that you are, indeed, passionate about what you do. Build esteem and self-confidence through your personal or leisure activities, which will manifest at work, too.

Consider the Team

Putting the team’s needs before your own is another way to show that you care about your work and the rest of your coworkers and colleagues. Work collaboratively and be a team player to make tasks go smoother, optimize productivity, and inspire other team members to find their passion on the job, too.

Look Professional

There is an adage regarding ‘dress for the job you want, not the one you have….’ This loosely means that you should put forth a favorable first impression and polished appearance to demonstrate that you are serious and passionate about work. Supervisors will notice.

Be a Problem-Solver

Try to circumvent and solve problems rather than create them. When faced with something unanticipated, like longer hours or a customer complaint, do not pass the buck or shirk responsibility. Show passion by taking on the challenge and picking up the slack when possible.

Know the Competition

Become informed and educated about your competition. Know what they do and how they do it so that you can do your own job even better! Researching the industry shows that you are passionate about your work.

Stay on Top of Trends

Try to stay abreast of industry trends so that you can see if your team is meeting the consumers’ wants and needs at the current time. Share your insights with colleagues. Check out what other similar businesses offer along these lines.

Work at Work

Perhaps the best way to show that you are passionate about what you do is to make progress and be productive at work. That is, work while you are at work! Model a good work ethic for those around you; it really can motivate and inspire others!

Represent the Company

Another way to demonstrate a passion for your job is to be respectful when representing the company. Do not talk negatively about your workplace, company, management, or coworkers. And act in a dignified, professional way that won’t embarrass your employer.

Be Prepared and Prompt

Show passion and regard others by showing up for the job prepared and on time, whatever kind of work you do. If you are running late or have a conflict, reach out and be communicative about it. This shows that you care about the workplace and respect those that you work with.

What if your team is lacking inspiration and motivation for work? This can impact productivity and impede the function of your staff. This is when charismatic leaders can help foster and cultivate passion at work among the other members of their team:

• Make personal connections with the members of the team. Know each other by name and recognize their strengths. Ask them questions. Be interested in the individuals that work for you. When you convey that each team member is valuable and worthy, it can build momentum and drive individuals to work hard. Passionate employees engage and connect with others, too.
• Encourage the team to look for innovative and alternative approaches to improve performance. That is, allowing room for experimentation and reconfiguration- it could pay off. Plus, it helps to instill passion within the team as you explore the merits of your staff’s contributions.
• Find and identify common goals. This builds a sense of solidarity among the team. Make measurable objectives the daily goals, contributing to a feeling of accomplishment as the staff makes strides toward completion. This can cultivate passion as each employee works toward the common aim.
• Create goals that help to make employees feel like they are contributing to something bigger than themselves. Discuss and explain your expectations as well as what the purposes are. This demonstrates transparency within the team and can ignite your team to work harder and push, if only not to disappoint the rest of the group. Recognize the group’s contributions and achievements.
• Focus on setting your team up for success. Let them take the credit and implement their ideas. This mindset can lead to overall growth, both among the individual and across the entire company. Show comfort in trusting your team with new ideas and never exude an expectation of failure ever. This builds confidence, and when you are confident in your job performance, it can ignite passion in what you do.
• Sometimes, you must step outside of your comfort zone. And this extends to your team and staff, too. Help them make this adjustment by welcoming inventive ideas and taking the time to listen to them. Reward creativity and ingenuity- after all, many entrepreneurial ideas are built on these foundations. Encourage them to be forward in their approaches to the job. And allow each member of the team to shine.
• Be honest and transparent with the team- and yourself. Ask your staff if and why they are - or are not - passionate about work. Is it the environment? Management? Do not be afraid to hear what they have to say; learn from it! For employees that are shy or worried, to be honest about the reasons they lack inspiration, consider an anonymous style survey or suggestion box to get the conversation started. Tap into what the individuals at work are feeling and experiencing, and your concern may begin to cultivate passion in the whole team.
• It can be hard for supervisors to let go and delegate, giving staff the freedom to complete tasks without being micromanaged, but it is a great way to initiate trust and autonomy among the team. Sure, some may run into obstacles or make mistakes, but this is what provides the impetus to do better next time. This leads to the professional growth and expertise you want on your team, which leads to passionate employees who are gratified with their work.
• Investing in your staff is another excellent way to cultivate passion in the work that you do. Facilitate learning with conferences, classes, and seminars. Encourage them to go by providing opportunities and allowing them the time to participate. They will need your cooperation to have the time and ability to attend; make sure they do! Buy books, online resources, or arrange get-togethers to inspire and teach your team all about the industry and give them tools for future success with the company. These investments can pay off with great returns for loyal, productive, and curious employees with a passion for the job!

Remember that passion can be cultivated and developed if need be. Everyone may have days that they do not feel passionate about the job - don’t give up on them. Use charismatic leadership to implement these suggestions and help your staff feel more invested in their work.