LEARNABILITY IN LEADERSHIP (IV)

ENTHUSIASM: According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”. The enthusiasm showed by a person towards an activity, event, happening, or phenomenon will play a strong part in determining the learnability of such person. Enthusiasm can be described as eagerness, a deep intense zeal or passion focused on pursuing a specific or spontaneous set of goals, involving some level of intense emotionalism, absorbing or controlling interest. A leader who is not enthusiastic about learning about a people or environment will find it difficult to lead such a people. Enthusiasm activates or enhances the absorption or assimilation levels of a person for learning. Taking a cue from Ralph Waldo Emerson we can conclusively say that “Nothing new is learned without a degree of enthusiasm. Learning a new thing is a great achievement, and discovering a new thing does not happen without enthusiasm. 

Finally from Deji Akinyanju (Owner of Chicken Republic, Reeds Thai Restaurant in Lagos, Butterfield Bakery and St. Elmos Pizza Nigeria); “If you have Passion, the rest is easy to learn, but you can’t teach somebody to be passionate”. Taking a line from this, I can say that if you are enthusiastic about something, you can learn anything about it, and the rest is easy, but, you cannot teach somebody to be enthusiastic. As it cannot be taught, one must LEARN to develop it. Enthusiasm is very contagious, and can spread really fast and deep.