Leadership Trait of the Day: ENTHUSIASM

Give me an “L”, give me and “E”, give me an “A” …. okay, you get the point.  However, being an Enthusiastic Leader does not mean you are a cheerleader. 

The Marine Corps defines Enthusiasm as the display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of your duty. Meaning – you are happy and motivated; you are optimistic, cheerful, and willing to accept challenges. 

Obviously, in the Marine Corps when we are dealing harsh physical training or grueling field conditions, the ability to be a little “Ooh Rah” is important.  Nothing can ease the burden during a 25 mile forced march like someone cracking jokes and getting laughs. 

But Enthusiasm is much more than that.  It is embracing your life and your job with zeal.  Dale Carnegie said that “enthusiasm is the little recognized secret to success.”  It is impossible to be successful if you do not love what you are doing.  If you are not dedicated to your job and excited about what you do, you will “mail it in.”  No one succeeds that way. 

What about as a Leader?  It is doubly important for you.  We all have experienced it – Enthusiasm and positive thinking are contagious.  Try to be depressed next to an upbeat and happy person – it is impossible.  As a Leader, your Enthusiasm is flows down to your people. 

John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach said “Your energy and enjoyments, drive and dedication will stimulate and greatly inspire others.” 

Let’s look at this angle a little differently.  It is fine to motivate and inspire others.  But as a Leader, you need to get others to believe in you and to believe in your ideas.  Why on Earth would someone buy into your ideas if you have the Enthusiasm of Eeyore?  They won’t.  If you are not passionate about your ideas and decisions, guess what?  No one else will be. 

Enthusiasm is not only a joy in your life and what you are doing, but it requires that you belief in yourself and your choices.  You cannot be enthusiastic if you are not confident in yourself and your decisions. 

Click through for a discussion of faking Enthusiasm.

There is one other aspect of Enthusiasm when it comes to Leadership – in the Marines we call this “false motivation.”  There is sarcastic saying that “There is no Motivation like False Motivation.”  What is false motivation?  It is pretending to have Enthusiasm. 

Enthusiasm is nearly impossible to fake, and false motivation is usually transparent.  However, used properly, false motivation is a great leadership tool and is where a Leader can make his money.  This is all about “grin and bear it” time. 

At some point, you and your team are going to be required to do something that is quite miserable, but something that has to be done.  Everyone is going to hate doing it – and so are you.  But, you know what, when you pretend to love it, grin and act happy – even though that act is transparent – everyone will follow your example. 

I hate Marine Corps force marches – we all do.  They are boring and gruelingly painful.  But, they are necessary for infantry training.  So, when we would be hiking for a couple of hours and every part of your body hurt, I would start going up and down the line of Marine acting goofy saying things like “what a great day for a walk.”  They knew I hated every second of the hike, but they appreciated the (fake) enthusiasm.  They figured if I could act happy, so could they.  And, together, we gritted it through. 

So, the key is, love what you do and who you are – that Enthusiasm is always contagious.  And, when things are awful – fake it – your people will appreciate your efforts and model your behavior.