Fuel Your Growth with Contagious Enthusiasm

Excerpt from the May 6 issue of Unscripted Strategy

In today’s best practice discussion, I want to focus on the most powerful tool from the consultant toolbox that I use regularly. This definitely falls into the “soft skills” category, but it is a critical success factor for everything I do.

If I cannot manifest this quality around the work I’m doing, my likelihood for success is much lower. If I have it, and I come into contact with you through words or other interactions, you’re likely to catch the feels for my solution. 🙂

So what dynamic quality can significantly accelerate your journey and have such a big impact? Contagious enthusiasm.

It might sound simple, but its impact, especially in leadership, consulting, and change management scenarios, is profound.

Think of enthusiasm not just as a feeling, but as an energy you bring to the table – one that others can’t help but pick up on. And you must project it for others to feel it too.

Think of enthusiasm not just as a feeling, but as an energy you bring to the table – one that others can’t help but pick up on.

This is not a skill where I can give you specific guidance on how to get there, but it is one where I can tell you things that I focus on to bring the feelings to the forefront so that I can bring my enthusiasm forward and share it with others. You will likely have ways to manifest this for yourself.

First, you must be involved in things you are passionate about, and you must be truly vested in the benefits of whatever it is that you’re doing or bringing to the table.

You can only achieve contagious enthusiasm about something when you’re authentic and genuine in your beliefs about it. Here’s how I try to bring contagious enthusiasm through in each scenario.

You can only achieve contagious enthusiasm about something when you’re authentic and genuine in your beliefs about it.

As a leader, your passion acts as a beacon. When you genuinely believe in your vision and communicate it with excitement, it ignites that same spark in your team. This isn’t about forced positivity. It’s about a deep-seated belief that becomes infectious, fostering motivation and driving collective action.

In consulting, your ability to instill confidence and excitement in your clients is crucial.

Contagious enthusiasm helps you articulate solutions with conviction, making stakeholders more receptive to your recommendations and building stronger partnerships.

It’s about showing them not just what needs to be done, but why it matters and the positive outcomes it can bring.

Change management, by its very nature, often faces resistance. Here, contagious enthusiasm becomes a vital tool for navigating uncertainty. By approaching change initiatives with genuine energy and highlighting the opportunities they present, you can alleviate fears and inspire buy-in. Your positive outlook can be the anchor that helps others embrace the new direction.

Achieving this capability through skill development isn’t about becoming a different person. It’s about tapping into your genuine interests and communicating them with passion.

It makes you more agile and responsive by fostering a positive mindset towards new challenges.
It also makes you proactive by inspiring those around you to pursue opportunities with vigor. Ultimately, your contagious enthusiasm becomes a powerful tool of persuasion, helping you influence and inspire others on their own career growth journeys.

So, embrace what excites you and let that energy fuel your success and the success of those around you.

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This article was published in the May 6, 2025 issue of Unscripted Strategy. To receive the newsletter on Tuesdays, subscribe below.