The Manager's Pocket Guide to Motivating Employees

Ten Tips for Modeling Enthusiasm

1. Be enthusiastic. Maintain a level of enthusiasm that is contagious. This has to be an authentic enthusiasm; most people can tell when you are being insincere.

2. Be honest. Be honest at all times. Preach it, talk about it, coach it, do it! This is where it gets tough—sometimes it is not easy to be honest. It is difficult to tell someone, for example, that the project they worked on is not acceptable, after they put a great deal of effort into the project. You must, however, be willing to be honest, because that is what you want your team to do. You want them to come to you when they have made a mistake, are confused, or don’t agree. At some companies I have worked with, I have seen employees agree in public, ...