How do leaders inspire people to do hard things? Why do people follow them? Successful leaders love what they do. They have the ability to inspire and motivate. They have leadership enthusiasm.
Simon Sinek is one of the most enthusiastic leaders I know (I know him only through his books and listening to his Ted Talks). He teaches people and companies to focus on their why and build out the how and what from there.
Simon’s enthusiasm for building great companies and doing great things is contagious. One of his most famous quotes paints the picture of enthusiasm: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”
The Right Attitude
So how does a leader’s enthusiasm drive success? How do they take the energy and enthusiasm and make something great? It comes down to attitude.
Your attitude will determine your direction. Successful people are passionate about their work and the activities they engage in. To the ancient Greeks, enthusiasm meant inspiration or divine influence. In modern English, it denotes intense enjoyment, interest, or approval.
For successful people, enthusiasm is a key driver of passion and achievement. It comes from within. The great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said, “Your energy and enjoyment, drive and dedication, will stimulate and greatly inspire others.” It will not only inspire others, but it will inspire you to reach new heights.
Author Augustine “Og” Mandino said, “Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm, you are doomed to a life of mediocrity, but with it, you can accomplish miracles.“
Whether you’re enthusiastic or not is a choice.
Here are three ways you can cultivate your influence:
1. Create the Vision
Look introspectively at your organization and your own behavior. Are you leading your team in a positive direction? Make it happen. Teach your people how to be successful in their jobs.
2. Share Your Optimism
You are the leader. You are the one on the front lines who sees the big picture for your organization. Don’t keep it to yourself. Share your vision of success. Communicate your optimism through your words and actions. Let them feel your passion.
The team will feed off your energy, your example. They will sense and follow your motives, so keep it positive.
3. Build a Culture of Enthusiasm
The greatest benefit your attitude will provide is a culture of success. Develop your team members. Provide opportunities for them to grow. Give them direction, and create structure and process to channel their growth. Create an environment where people will give their very best efforts.
As you cultivate these behaviors in your own life, you will reap the benefits. Let enthusiasm drive your leadership.
Related Articles
Why is Enthusiasm Important To You?
If you have ideas that you feel like sharing that might be helpful to readers, share them in the comments section below. Thanks!
Would you like to contribute a post?
I am frequently leery of enthusiastic people for the following reasons:
1) They seem to insist that I be enthusiastic about the same things that they are and are insulted if I am not. I figure it is my choice as to what I am enthusiastic about.
2) They try to use emotion to persuade me. I tend to rely on thinking, and look for logical rationale. However if a person is willing to make great sacrifices for some cause, that is more persuasive than their show of enthusiasm.
3) It is good that you reminded people to provide direction, structure and define processes, as enthusiastic people are often weak in those areas. They may struggle to difficult time define criteria for what is excellence, judging others on enthusiasm rather than results.