I once offered a job to a person who behaved so indifferently at the news that I was tempted to retract the offer.
Fortunately, I didn't and thus gained an excellent employee but that episode lingers as a reminder of the importance of enthusiasm. Have you ever read a note of praise that lacked the requisite enthusiasm and seemed so mild as to resemble a slight reprimand? Tone matters.
Enthusiasm does not easily come to some people. They are always aware of the footnotes and the caveats. It is, however, an important element of leadership because while people don't want a mindless cheerleader, they do want a reasonable amount of buoyancy from the person who is taking them into rough waters. This can also apply when times are good. To steal a bit from Churchill, if an associate seems demoralized at the high points, how will the person handle the lows?
There are moments when every word is weighed and every emotion is noted. And if one's true feelings do not match the needs of the situation, fake it. Effectiveness often trumps the genuine.
3 comments:
Also good to understand as a manager that people are different. The study of human nature might be the best one a leader can undertake. While one person might emote, another might be more subdued. Neither reaction will tell you which will be the better employee.
Dan,
Culture and style need to be taken into account. When some people mumble that they really like something, that's the equivalent of a back-flip.
Michael
Hi Michael
I just wrote something a little similar on the HubCap Digital forum (http://www.hubcapdigital.com/). My point was that too often (ie as the norm) managers give out projects and tasks and assignments like theyre serving up prison food. There's no enthusiasm, no spark, no challenge - and as a result, the same is lacking in those who do the work. For me interest is the key. Long known that what interests us is all that interests us - and hence care about (even the key to 'engagement' for me). But you can make even inbox cleaning interesting if you try. Maybe though enthusiasm and interest creation are skills?
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