A leader's passion is their catalyst for momentum. The larger the momentum the greater the impact. I identify two areas of passion from my life. The first is for what I am chasing and the second is with whom I am chasing. I chase after God because I believe He is the giver of life. My passion is two-fold. My passion is the direction I am headed in life and the people that are willing to pursue this direction with me. Passion must be aimed towards direction and towards followers.

Webster's dictionary defines passion as the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces. Something drives our passion and leaders need to be able to focus it correctly. Leaders must be disciplined enough to allow passion to consume us without allowing it to take over us.

Leaders are passionate about direction. Being a leader requires an endurance to stay on course even when risks are present. Leaders that are passionate about the direction they pursue are able to engage risks effectively. Leaders who are not passionate about the direction they pursue will avoid risks and miss opportunities to learn and gain momentum. It is impossible to fully engage a love in life without being passionate about it. Without this passion you cannot experience the fullness of the journey.

Leaders are passionate about people. A leader cannot coexist with community if they have no followers. Rob Bell says that "a leader without followers is just another guy taking a walk down the road alone." Leadership is not the mechanical compliance of people but the ability to influence others to willfully follow. I suspect a part of passion is the ability to care and serve others, otherwise they would not follow otherwise. Leaders must be passionate about people if the wish to influence freely.

A leader's passion is their catalyst for momentum. Momentum is so important because it allows leaders and followers to take a hit but keep moving if enough momentum is built up. Passion helps to fuel momentum. If you truly are passionate about something you will not give up on it when the going gets tough. I think of an endurance athlete when I think of passion. They train hard to fulfill their mission. Sometimes they are so weak that the only thing that keeps them moving is the love the sport. Leaders, this love is passion.