Enthusiasm: definitely a force multiplier

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. John Schaeufele
  • 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (AFPN) --  The single most important ingredient to any successful organization or operation is pure enthusiasm that comes from within the people of winning teams. Some refer to it as passion, while others call it attitude. But it all starts with one person within a group who believes in a goal and a vision. That person's contagious spirit sparks a reaction within the organization and soon everyone believes. Then great achievement and success are inevitable.

I sometimes refer to a simple formula for success that I've used for many years. "Time, plus tools, plus training, plus attitude equal success." I attribute this formula to retired Gen. Wilbur L. "Bill" Creech.

The point I see in this formula is the Air Force owes its people time, tools and training. Yet everything leadership does to ensure success is fruitless unless we are passionate about what we're doing and have that winning mental attitude so vital to success.

Passion is about beliefs. It is manifested within our minds and given action by our bodies to be carried out in our spirits that attract others to our feelings, ideas and values. So how do we spark the passion within ourselves and those with whom we associate?

We start by getting to know ourselves and those closest to us.

Have you ever watched as a team of star athletes fails to win because they didn't perform well together? The reason is that while each athlete knew his or her personal strengths, they failed to understand how a unit performing together is greater than the individual strengths of its members.

Supervisors should know what they are good at and what they are not good at. They also need to constantly assess their teammates to focus on the strengths and encourage a winning attitude.

By doing so, they uncover the passion within the team. Remember, enthusiasm is contagious, and having an attitude of "one wins, we all win" will produce organizations that perform greater than single units or individuals.

Unleashing passion brings success. Also true is that excessive criticism demoralizes a team. Child physiologists teach that children become what we tell them they are. Encouragement and praise raise self esteem; focusing on individuals' weaknesses lowers it.

The lesson here is "don't spend time focusing on your faults or the faults of others." Recognize strengths and encourage them.

A great team is a unit where members know the weakness of their mates but provide support and encouragement that build up every member and raise the overall level of team performance.

Our Air Force leaders, as in every successful organization, are looking for ways to gain a decisive advantage and give us the time, tools and training necessary to gain success in battle today and in our vast future. It is up to each of us to find within ourselves and our teammates the passion, that positive winning attitude. That will guarantee success.