Chapter 53.
Lead With Enthusiasm

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

All the world’s a stage.

You are a great actor on that stage.

So, when it is your turn to appear in a scene, be enthusiastic! Especially if you have something about which you need to fire up your team. If you have something to convince them of, try being really enthusiastic about what you have to say, simply as a place to come from.

When your employee speaks in return, be enthusiastic. Glow. Sparkle. Radiate leadership and solutions. Pump yourself up. Take it to an even higher level.

When you’re ready to get the team involved, don’t fade out—remember you are acting enthusiastic. You are an actor, and a good one. Finish strong. Enthusiasm is contagious. People love to be around it. It makes them smile and shake their heads; it can even make them laugh with pleasure at the dynamo that is you.

Most managers make the mistake of not doing this. They act reserved, cool, and “professional.” They don’t act “professional” because they are professional; they do it because they’re scared (about how they’re coming across), and they think if they act cool they will be safe.

We spoke with Jeremy about a talk we had him give to his team.

“You seemed a little less than enthusiastic about this new commission system, Jeremy.”

“Really? I didn’t realize that.”

“That’s the point.”

“What do you mean?” Jeremy asked.

“You aren’t realizing your lack of enthusiasm in front of your team because you are choosing not to be conscious of it.”

“How is it a choice?”

“You are choosing to be less than enthusiastic.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. It doesn’t feel like I’m making any kind of choice.” Jeremy said.

“You speak Spanish, don’t you Jeremy?”

“Yes, I do. I’m bilingual. It helps with certain customers.”

“Did you realize that you gave your talk to your team in English? Were you aware of that?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Did you choose that?”

“Of course I chose it! The team all speaks English. What are you driving at here?” Jeremy asked.

“Your choice to speak in English was as clear and definite a choice as your choice to be unenthusiastic. You have an equally clear choice about enthusiasm (or no enthusiasm) as you do about choosing between English and Spanish. We recommend you stop choosing to be unenthusiastic with your people.”

Jeremy said nothing.

“Because being calm and professional doesn’t motivate. A chilly demeanor doesn’t make much of an impression. It is immediately forgotten, along with the idea you are promoting.”

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek words en theos, which translate to “the God within,” the most spirited and spiritual you. You times 10. Like the you when you were a little kid riding your bike with no hands.

Enthusiasm is contagious. If you are excited about your idea, everyone else will be excited. That’s how it works. Always remember Emerson’s observation, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

You can lead with enthusiasm, or you can lead without enthusiasm. Those are your choices. One choice leads to a highly motivated team; the other leads to long-term problems.

“But how can I be enthusiastic when I’m not?” Jeremy finally said.

We have managers ask that question all the time. The answer is easy. The way to be enthusiastic is to act enthusiastic. There isn’t a person in the world who can tell the difference if you put your heart and soul into your acting. And about a minute and a half into your acting, the funniest thing starts to happen: the enthusiasm becomes real. You do feel it. And so does your team.