Have you noticed how infectious enthusiasm is? We all respond to someone who obviously has put their heart and soul into something rather than just their intellect.
The word enthusiasm originally means ‘inspired by God’ or ‘the God within’. This may sound off-putting to some of you, but it captures well the sense that enthusiasm is heart- or spirit-based, and therefore appeals to us at a deeper level.
An example I came across recently is of someone who works for Virgin airlines. She is a member of the ground crew, doing an apparently ‘ordinary’ job, yet she talked for half an hour of how much she loves what she does and whom she works for. She saw her job as important to the company’s success, and gave her all to it willingly, because the company also made sure that she was cared for, and had her own life as well.
To invoke enthusiasm in others like that, we need to ensure that they feel valued and important, and that their individuality is appreciated.
To invoke it in ourselves we need to find what makes our heart sing in our work, and build on that.
Homework
- When are you enthusiastic? Look for what makes your heart sing at work.
- When do you encourage others to be enthusiastic? Look for opportunities to make others feel valued and important, and cared for.
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