Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Wooden on Leadership

Industriousness?

In plain language, I mean that you have to work – and work hard. There is no substitute for work. None. Worthwhile things come only from real work.

I called it “industriousness” because “work” as performed by most people isn’t real work; rather, it’s going through the motions, putting in time, enduring boredom. Many will complain about a hard day at the office when, in fact, they didn’t lift a finger or think a thought. That’s not work. I had something else in mind, the kind of work in which you are fully engaged, totally focused, and completely absorbed. There is no clock watching and no punching in and out. Industriousness, for me, means true work.

I also knew intuitively that for industriousness to occur, an equally important quality is required…

…Enthusiasm

Work without joy is drudgery. Drudgery does not produce champions. You will not reach the top – success – if you and those you lead are wearily trudging along, waiting for the workday to end so you can move on to something you’d rather do.

As a leader, you must be filled with energy and eagerness, joy and love for what you do. If you lack enthusiasm for your job, you can not perform to the best of your ability. Success is unattainable without enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm transforms work into industriousness and catapults you to most productive heights.

Your enthusiasm does the same for those you lead. The energy and enjoyment, drive and dedication you exude stimulate the team. Enthusiasm must be real, not phony. False enthusiasm is common and easily detected. If you are faking it, posing and pretending, those under your supervision with spot it and do likewise.

Enthusiasm comes from within and is expressed in different ways. It is not necessarily jumping up and down and making a lot of noise.

When they are joined together, industriousness and enthusiasm become the driving force, the engine that powers all…

You will perish without hard work, without industriousness. Industriousness is not possible without enthusiasm. Success is unattainable without both of them.

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