by Jeff Custer | Monday, June 6, 2022
RIP dear leader.
No, they’re not dead, they just “retired in place.”
Have you ever seen a leader like this? They’ve lost their enthusiasm, they drag others down, they’ve become more of a roadblock to progress, or their demeanor borders on apathy that drains energy from those around them. It’s certainly not a recipe for success.
Effective leaders on the other hand bring a contagious excitement to their organization.
They’re probably not a “RAH, RAH” superficial cheerleader, but their passion for and to the organization’s mission is clearly palpable. And that enthusiasm rubs off on the people around them. More than that, enthusiastic leaders persuade others to join them in their zeal.
How do leaders develop and sustain this enthusiasm?
They have a strong connection to the organization’s mission. They believe in what the organization is trying to accomplish. They're bought in. Their belief makes it easy for them to devote energy to the cause.
They have concrete plans. They know what needs to be done to achieve the mission. They stay focused on what really matters and avoid being pulled away from the mission by distractions.
They have the right attitude. Moreover, they CHOOSE the right attitude every day. I often talk about what we control and influence versus what we cannot control. Your attitude is one of the few things you truly control. Enthusiastic leaders choose to have a good attitude.
Enthusiasm is a good thing, but one enthusiastic person alone isn’t very powerful. Those efforts need to be multiplied. Enthusiastic leaders persuade others in their organization to join them. Their passion and excitement are contagious to direct reports, peers, and even others in the organization.
How do enthusiastic leaders move beyond cheerleading and actually persuade others to join them?
Their singular focus on the mission allows them to clearly convey direction. They avoid getting caught up in a “flavor of the day” mentality and help point people in the right direction.
Their strong belief in the mission gives off an air of confidence that reassures others. Followers seek direction. They want a leader in whom they can place their trust.
Their enthusiasm coupled with strong believe keeps opposition at bay. There will always be naysayers, but followers will choose the positive energy of an enthusiastic leader over a naysayer.
They’re consistent and relentless in their passion. They’re tireless in championing their positions and beliefs. They constantly work to win people to their side.
Strong leaders bring enthusiasm to everything they do and they’re effective at persuading others to join them. They gain eager followers and supporters when they spread their positive outlook. The energy generated by these traits propel organizations forward.
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Are you struggling to improve your effectiveness as a leader? Email me at jeff@levelupcourses.co for a free consultation.
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Jeff Custer is a long-time leader at both private and Fortune 500 companies where he has developed and led both high performance individuals and teams. He is passionate about developing leaders and building high impact teams. Jeff resides in the United States.