An enthusiasm bid is a burst of excitement someone sends your way: faster speech, bigger gestures, a brighter voice. It is asking you to share this energy. A proportional reply matches some of that energy and reacts to the specifics, instead of staying flat or cooling it down.
This is one of the nine signal types in The Art of Charm’s Conversation Radar. It is easy to miss because the words can be ordinary. The bid is in the delivery.
What is an enthusiasm bid?
It is a small request to feel something together. Someone has good news, a new hobby, a plan they love, and they are not just reporting it. They are inviting you in.
It sits inside the wider idea we cover in bids for connection: small attempts to engage that you can turn toward or turn away from. Enthusiasm is the bid that asks for company in a good feeling.
What does an enthusiasm bid sound or look like?
Look at how it is said, not only what is said.
- The person speaks faster than usual, or their voice goes up in pitch.
- Their hands start moving, or they lean toward you.
- They say “You will not believe this,” or “I have to tell you something.”
- They repeat a detail because it is exciting to them.
- Their face does most of the talking before the sentence ends.
Sometimes the bid is quiet. A coworker says, “So I finally got the schedule changed,” with a small grin. The grin is the signal.
What is an enthusiasm bid asking for?
Share this energy. It is not asking for advice, a risk assessment, or your own matching story. It wants you to arrive in the feeling with them for a moment.
Our podcast hosts have talked about why this matters. As the hosts put it on The Art of Charm podcast (How to Influence through Positive Emotions | Toolbox | The Art of Char), “If you bring enthusiasm towards other people’s accomplishments their stories their Adventures their excitement their emotional bids then what actually ends up happening is they feel a positive emotional climate around us.”
How do I respond in proportion?
Match some of the energy, then be specific. Proportion is the whole skill: a small signal gets a warm, quick reply, and a big one gets more.
| Signal | Weak response | Proportional response | Why it works |
|---|
| “I just booked my first marathon!” | “Okay. Those are hard on your knees.” | “Wow, congratulations! How did you decide to go for it?” | Celebrates first, then asks about the story. |
| A grin and “They finally approved my project.” | “Good. What is the budget?” | “That is great news. What are you most looking forward to?” | Receives the win before moving to logistics. |
| A fast, excited description of a new band | “Never heard of them.” | “You sound really into them. What song should I start with?” | Names the energy and takes a small step toward it. |
| An animated story about a trip planned for spring | “Hope the flights are not too expensive.” | “That sounds amazing. What are you most excited to do there?” | Adds warmth, leaves the worries for later. |
The common thread: the weak reply is not unkind. It just answers a different question than the one being asked.
What are the common ways people miss it?
- Staying flat. “Cool.” is an answer, but it does not carry energy back.
- Tempering it. You mean to be realistic, so you add caution. The person hears that their good news cost you something.
- Topping it. You respond with a bigger story of your own. They offered a moment and you took it.
- Going to logistics too fast. Questions about cost, timing and risk can wait.
- Faking it. Big noise without specifics feels hollow. One real detail beats three exclamation marks.
What are some scripts for different people?
These are examples in our own words. Change them to sound like you.
A friend: They text, “I got the apartment!!” You reply, “Yes!! Tell me everything. What is the best thing about it?”
A date or partner: They talk quickly about a trip they are planning. You say, “I love seeing you this excited. What are you looking forward to most?”
A coworker: They mention at the coffee machine that a client signed. You say, “That is great, congratulations. Was it the proposal that won them over?”
How do I do this if I am quiet by nature?
You do not have to be loud. Lower-volume enthusiasm works when it is clear and specific. A real smile, a pause, and “That is wonderful, I can tell how much it means to you” lands. The signal you are sending is that you noticed, and noticing does not need a big voice.
Can Conversation Radar help me notice these live?
If you tend to realize afterwards that someone was excited and you gave them a polite nod, Conversation Radar is a short course built around catching these signals as they happen. It has four modules (Conversation Formula, 5 Levels of Listening, Magnetic Body Language, Rapid Rapport) and covers all nine signal types. It is not scripts, and it works for introverts. See how it works.
How do I notice an enthusiasm bid live?
Watch for a change from the person’s usual pace. If they are normally calm and suddenly speak faster, that is information. If they usually joke and are suddenly earnest and bright, that is too. Our guide on how to read people explains how to compare what you see with someone’s usual baseline.
Then ask yourself one question: “Are they asking me to feel this with them?” If yes, react first and ask second.
Enthusiasm often travels with curiosity. If you want to practice the neighboring skill, see interest bids, and for the playful cousin of this signal see humor bids.
How can I practice this week?
- Day 1: Spot the shift. Notice one moment where someone speaks faster or brighter than usual.
- Day 2: React before you ask. Say “That is great” or “Wow” before any question.
- Day 3: Find the specific. Pick one detail from what they said and name it back.
- Day 4: Catch yourself tempering. If you add a caution, stop and swap it for a question about the best part.
- Day 5: Share a small win. Tell someone something good and see how they respond, so you feel the difference from the other side.
- Day 6: Quiet version. Practice one low-volume reply that is still warm and specific.
- Day 7: Review. Which replies felt natural? Keep those and repeat them.
If this feels hard because conversations stress you out generally, read how to stop being socially awkward for ways to ease in.
Want to notice more of what people are already telling you? Explore Conversation Radar.
Back to the full list of signals: Bids for Connection: 9 Signals People Send and How to Answer.
