Conversations in Management
Mr.
Emerson was nothing if not enthusiastic; although his enthusiasm
may have surprised some folks. After all, there was nothing in
his appearance or demeanor that we would normally associate with
exuberance. He held himself erect, always wore black, was called
“Mr. Emerson” not only by his closest friends but by his wife as
well, was uncomfortable with small talk and loud laughter. When
a friend suggested that he could enhance his popularity by
demonstrating greater warmth, Emerson replied that he, “never
intended to be a substitute for the kitchen stove.”
None-the-less, he had a way of captivating audiences with his
commanding presence, resonant voice and the instinctive ability
to make everyone feel as though he were speaking to them alone.
That was a good thing because he was usually talking about
original ideas that folks weren’t used to hearing and that
weren’t always easy to follow. Still, his audiences seemed to
connect with him on an almost intuitive level. Following a
lecture at the East Lexington Unitarian Church, a parishioner
commented, “You know we are a plain people and can understand no
one but Mr. Emerson.”
Emerson
owed his immense popularity to a couple of distinctly 19th
century forums: the Lyceum and the Chautauqua Circuit. The
Lyceum Movement developed early in the century as a means of
providing adult education and cultural enrichment to local
communities. Many towns built Lyceum halls to host visiting
speakers who might have included Henry Thoreau, Susan B.
Anthony, Mark Twain, and Abraham Lincoln among many others.
After the Civil War, the Lyceum slowly morphed into vaudeville.
Its educational purpose was then assumed by the Chautauqua.
A Chautauqua was a summer camp that featured adult education,
arts and entertainment in a wholesome, family-oriented
environment (something like a modern cruise). Working as his own
booking agent, Emerson followed the circuits from his home in
Massachusetts across the country to California and through
Canada as well. He addressed the hot button topics of the day—he
was against the annexation of Texas and vehemently opposed
slavery. But he’s best remembered for his talks on human nature,
theology, “great” men, education as well as Persian and Hindu
wisdom. Weaving all of this together was his consistent belief
that everyone is capable of self-mastery; that by listening to
their intuitive sense of reason they were capable of effecting
great changes. Ultimately, this was possible because mastery of
anything was always the initiating point for new growth and
inquiry. The spark for this growth is, of course, enthusiasm.
Emerson
reminds us that enthusiasm doesn’t always involve the kind of
over-the-top, demonstrations that we expect. Many people go
quietly about their business with an intense enthusiasm that
shows up in what they produce rather than in what they display.
This is a reality often missed by extroverted leaders who
mistake introversion for a lack of commitment. Emerson also
reminds us that the power of enthusiasm is immense. When
individuals become passionately committed, incredible things are
likely to happen. Enthusiasm promotes new and critical thinking.
It encourages others to exceed their own expectations and it
increases the confidence of everyone involved. Enthusiasm—hitch
your wagon to this star.
—Ebert
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