Abstract:
Values can be abstract and intangible and yet they hold high importance as to how people live and work. The purpose of this article is to identify passion as an added value in the passionate and healthy workplace, valuing people for who and what they are. It differentiates between the role of harmonious and obsessive passion and draws attention to examples of passion thrillers and passion killers. Leaders who engage in passion thrillers help to positively motivate themselves and others. They create an environment in which passion is intrinsically drawn from the workforce building on an organisation that is a healthy place to work. Passion killers are described as people (intra and interpersonal relationships) and/ or things (stimuli) that inhibit passion. Discussion compares passion killers to a virus that, if not addressed, can spread throughout the organisation. The term "pathocratic influence" is also introduced where leaders, who engage in passion killing influence others to behave and think in similar ways, damaging the reputation and success of the organisation, creating a working environment that is toxic. Limitations are also identified, and recommendations drawn.
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