An article in CLO Magazine entitled Fostering a Passionate Workforce caught my eye today. In the article, Dan Bobinsky, author of Creating Passion Driven Teams, defines passion as when an employee has a thorough understanding of the big picture and how his/her personal activities contribute to that picture. One of the ways to accomplish this, he says, is to make sure that all training is aligned with the strategic vision of the company.

I agree with this perspective, and would add that I think it's important to not only align training but also to tackle the "big picture" issue directly -- by educating employees about the business in ways that get them to understand what it takes to survive and thrive.

Do they understand how the company makes money? Do they understand how strategic decisions are tied to the company's goals? Do they "get" the competitive landscape and where the company fits into that landscape? Do they understand why things are changing in the company, how those changes will look and feel, and where they contribute? Can they clearly connect the actions they take every day to the achievement of company goals?

We work with client companies every day that have undertaken the education of employees -- at all levels -- in business acumen to generate understanding and commitment to the company's goals. And others who have put the time and energy into communicating with and educating employees around strategic change. These companies understand that employees,who grasp not only what is happening in the business, but also why, will be better able to take the actions necessary for success.

If your company has a passionate workforce, I would bet that it is a business-savvy workforce!