Cultivating An Enthusiastic Attitude Toward Life

The great accomplishments of man have resulted from the transmission of ideas and enthusiasm," Thomas J. Watson, IBM founder, once observed. Don't you feel great on days when you're filled with enthusiasm and brimming with ideas?

Wouldn't it be terrific if you could feel like that most of the time instead of occasionally?

When you act with enthusiasm not only do you feel great, but the feeling rubs off on everyone around you. So with that in mind, here are some ways to generate enthusiasm-both in yourself and in your coworkers:

Think positive thoughts. Think about the day you have in front of you as you're getting dressed or commuting. Picture doing what you like to do best, whether it's working on certain projects, meeting with certain people, or perhaps it's just a lunch date you've been looking forward to. Imagining yourself doing agreeable things during the day will help put you in a good mood at the day's start.

Welcome challenges. If you know that the day you have in front of you is going to be a trying one, build your confidence by replaying some of your successes. How did you feel? What did you do? What did you say? This mental preparation will help you stand up to the challenge and make it easier for you to be positive and enthusiastic.

Make yourself lively and interesting. Put excitement in your voice! When you greet your coworkers in the morning, speak a little louder than you usually do. Instead of mumbling a muffled "good morning" as you shuffle to get your coffee, stop, look the other person in the eye, and say with a smile, "Hey Joe, nice to see you. Great morning, isn't it?" Joe will probably wonder what's gotten into you, but he'll probably smile and respond in kind- which brings us to our next point . . .

Make people smile. When you walk into someone's office or work area with a big smile on your face, the other person smiles back. They can't help it: A smile is contagious. So try this: All day today, every time you have to ask someone a question, just walk into their space and stand there smiling for a few seconds. Then ask your question and see what kind of response you get.

Look the part. Put bounce in your step and a gleam in your eye. Sit erect in your chair as you work. Whistle while you walk through the hallways (but not so loudly that it disturbs your coworkers). When people are enthusiastic about something, they feel and look happy. Let your enthusiasm show.

Share your positive emotions. When you feel good about something or someone, let it out. For example, you might greet your coworker on Monday morning by sharing something like, "I'm really enjoying working on this project with you, Sue. I'm learning a lot from you. I think our boss is going to be pleased with the results, too." Sharing positive sentiments makes two people happy: you and the person you share with.

Take the first steps toward cultivating an enthusiastic attitude now. Act enthusiastic and soon you won't have to act anymore. You'll become enthusiastic, and so will everyone you come in contact with.