My wife, Rishy, and I are owners of the Beloit Sky Carp baseball team, the high-A minor league affiliate of the Miami Marlins.

I received a nice note from an employee saying they liked that I had ended an email with the words “gung ho!”

I replied with a group message explaining a little more about the term and how it sums up what we want in the Sky Carp culture: an enthusiastic atmosphere created by an energetic group of people working together.

 After some reflection, I felt this subject might make a good column. Most organizations can use more of the “gung ho” mindset.

I learned about this concept when the book “Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization,” by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles, came out in 1997.

It is included on most lists of best leadership books of all time. I highly recommend it. 

The term gung ho originated in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) from the Chinese term gungho, which referred to industry cooperatives. 

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Evans F. Carlson encountered the term in China and associated it with teamwork and cooperation (work together).

During World War II, it was adopted as a motivational slogan by the U.S. Marines.

As it made its way into popular culture, its meaning shifted a bit, becoming a term for “enthusiastic or energetic”…sometimes in an over-the-top way.

Is it possible to be too enthusiastic or energetic–too “gung ho”? In my opinion, no. 

In uncertain times with so much disruption, engagement, collaboration, motivation, and resilience matter more than ever. The gung ho spirit is exactly what we need to thrive.

In the book “Gung Ho!,” the authors present a business parable about a struggling factory that turns itself around by embracing principles taught via Native American metaphors: the Spirit of the Squirrel, the Way of the Beaver, and the Gift of the Goose.

(This last principle is what made me connect gung ho with the Sky Carps–a “sky carp” is a slang term for a goose that is choosing not to migrate!)

Let’s look at what each one means.

The Spirit of the Squirrel. Squirrels work hard to gather food for winter. They don’t need external motivation. They’re naturally driven because their efforts are toward the meaningful and shared goal of survival. This shows that in the workplace, people need to see how their individual tasks contribute to a bigger purpose.

TIP: Make sure people understand the “why” behind what they do. We all need to be reminded that our work matters.

The Way of the Beaver. Beavers build complex dams, and they do it without micromanagement. This principle is about trust and empowerment.

In the workplace, teams thrive when they have clear goals and expectations but are allowed ownership over how they achieve them. 

TIP: Provide the resources and training people need. This sets them up to take the initiative and solve problems. Don’t swoop in and “rescue” them (I call this “Park Ranger Leadership”) but let them figure out their own solutions.

The Gift of the Goose. Geese honk at each other while flying in formation. These honks aren’t just noise–they’re encouragement. Likewise, in the workplace, when we cheer each other on, we increase energy, boost morale, and improve performance. People need genuine, timely, specific praise to keep performing well.

TIP: It is natural for leaders to look for what’s wrong. We often got to be leaders because we’re good at solving problems. Get intentional about looking for what’s right and give frequent meaningful recognition.

Infuse these three principles into your culture. When people are connected to the purpose of their work, have the freedom to own it, and feel genuinely appreciated, great things happen. That’s the gung ho spirit — and it’s how any organization can work together to win.

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Quint Studer is the author of 16 books on leadership in the workplace and the community. His book Building a Vibrant Community is a valuable resource for civic leaders, business owners, and all citizens who have a stake in building a community they can be proud to call home.

In Sundays with Quint, he shares a selection of his popular leadership columns for leaders, employees, and business owners in all industries. He can be reached at Quint@QuintStuder.com.