Leadership Qualities: Passion Part 2

Absalom Ruins Own Cause-2 Samuel 13:22-18:9 (negative)

Absalom died as a maverick leader whose passion went awry. What his story reveals about passion gone bad:

1. Passion without perspective brings death (13:22-29).
2. Passion will find expression, in either healthy or unhealthy ways (14:28-30).
3. People follow passion over orthodoxy, even when it’s unwise (15:1-12).
4. Leaders who follow passion defeat leaders who follow protocol (15:13, 14).
5. Self-centered passion always skews the judgment of a leader (16:22).
6. Unchanneled and unbridled passion damages everyone near it (17:18).
7. When passion outweighs wisdom, leaders sabotage themselves (18:9).

Absalom represents a leader who can’t bridle his passion. When a leader embraces passion before he learns submission, trouble always follows.

Does this mean we should condemn passion? Absolutely not! Passion is one of the 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Consider the benefits of passion:

1. Passion is the first step to achievement.
2. Passion increases your willpower.
3. Passion changes you.
4. Passion makes the impossible possible.

Passion helps develop your leadership. Passion must, however, pour from the heart of a leader who is wise, accountable, submissive, and unselfish.

Join me next time for Leadership Qualities: Passion Part 3