Why do leaders need to be passionate and enthusiastic? | Enthusiastic Educational Leadership

At Emotions are infectious and leaders play an important role in setting the general climate and tone at work. When a leader is passionate and enthusiastic, this creates a generally positive working environment, the best leaders have high energy levels, which makes people feel good about being around them. Of course, the reverse is true and prolonged negativity from a leader ultimately depresses everyone.

Effective leaders have an ability to remain upbeat most of the time because they really do enjoy the leadership role. They recognize that, if they do not project an air of passion and enthusiasm, then the team and, ultimately, the results will suffer. You cannot fake positive emotions such as these over the long-term; unless they are genuine, people quickly see through them.

Better leaders get through the normal short-term lows in life without allowing them impact too negatively on how they act and behave at work. They make a conscious, if difficult, effort to remain relatively upbeat, even when they do not feel up to doing so.

Of course, they may dip somewhat from time to time but not to the extent that they damage the atmosphere at work. When there are wider, more substantial issues affecting their be they motivation – be they work or non – work related – those who excel in motivation leadership roles take pro-active steps to resolve those difficulties because they recognize that, unless they do so, their levels of enthusiasm and positive attitude will be damaged.

To reflect on this important area, consider the following questions:

• Are you really enthusiastic about leading others, or was it the extra money that attracted you to the role?
• Did you actively seek to become a leader or were you just next in line?
• Do you really believe in the company that you are working for?
• Do you get a real buzz out of what you do every day?
• Do you consider dealing with people problems at work to be a challenge or a chore?
• Do you take personal satisfaction when your team performs well?
• Are there issues at work that impact negatively on your levels of enthusiasm? What have you done, or could you do, to remove these blockages?
• Can you leave problems behind at work at the end of the day or do you dwell them constantly?
• When you wake up every day, do you feel good about going to work or do you have to drag yourself there?
• Are you happy generally with your life?
• Would you describe yourself as being relatively fit and healthy?
• Do you take pro-active steps to address the non work-related problems you face or do you let them fester and get you down?

These, and other similar questions, are vital considerations for you because they impact deeply on your ability to be passionate and enthusiastic in the leadership role.