FanStory.com - Enthusiasm JJ DID TIE BUCKLEby Bill Schott

Leadership Traits:
Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge Loyalty (previously addressed), and Enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is showing up at the end of this leadership essay series, but we all know it is really first. Without enthusiasm, that need to succeed, that sense of urgency we must create within ourselves and develop within others, our ability to succeed takes on one more obstacle -- us.

If you were to give one person a task to accomplish by simply ordering him/her to do it, you will likely get an outcome that equals the minimum effort and lowest expectation. If that same person had the same objective, but this time knowing why it's important, and how it will make things better, you have given him/her motivation.

Enthusiasm is a necessary element that works both ways. You need to keep a fire under those who follow your lead, and they need to feed you that same energy when, as a leader, your batteries get low.

A good coach will keep his/her team motivated by creating comradery that develops a personal need within each member to contribute to the group's success. Goals and rewards along the way help maintain the desire to press on with vigor.

Explaining why success is important, gives everyone incentives to keep enthusiasm high. An athlete looks for recognition, personal best performance, and a bigger goal made achievable by victories along the way.

In any job, a leader can incentivise constituents of the group by showing how their individual and /or group performance will lead to greater things. Promotions, money, benefits, and broadened potentials are all reasons for enthusiastic productivity.