Excitable, Emotional or Passionate

When unexcitable equals lack of passion, teams:

•     Become passive.
•     Lack urgency.

If by “unexcitable” you infer the ability to stay collected in crisis:

•     Decisions are sound and methodical.
•     Staff becomes less crisis-oriented.

Definitions:

Passionate leaders persistently drive and consistently focus on objectives higher than and outside themselves.

Emotional leaders are up one day and down the next. They sink inward rather than reaching outward. Think moody. We don’t respect them.

Excitable leaders, in the context of my conversation with Jim Moorhead, get sucked into drama. They lose their heads under pressure. Let’s face it, there’s always pressure.

Always UNexcitable:

The best leaders are passionate but unexcitable and most valued during crisis. “We look for leaders,” Moorhead commented, “Who are unexcitable yet transmit positive energy.”

How to be an unexcitable leader:

•     Develop systems.
•     Gather input from teams.
•     Embrace short, medium, and long term thinking. Rise above day to day thinking.
•     Focus most on the future.
•     Create and illuminate positive trajectory, especially during crisis.
•     Remain flexible.
•     Apologize.

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How do you balance being unexcitable and passionate?