The science of being inspiring
Being and inspiring leader isn’t as hard as you think
Being and inspiring leader isn’t as hard as you think
When you think of ‘inspiring people’ who do you think of? Michelle Obama? Serena Williams? Martin Luther King?
Me too
Which is what can make being an ‘inspiring’ person, so so far from who we are
But being inspiring really isn’t that hard
It’s actually just science…
Humans feel inspired when the thing we are doing (or are about to do), is connected to something BIGGER than ourselves.
Example
Here’s 2 examples of how explaining the same thing to your team can be inspiring or not:
Tomorrow I need everyone to send an email to every one of their clients asking how they’re finding the product, so we can get feedback to improve the ways we’re working
Our mission is to help accounting business owners charge what they’re worth, so they can run businesses they enjoy and ultimately lead lives they love. Our product is perfectly positioned to help them do that. But I feel our clients are not quite getting what they need from our product. Can everyone send an email to each of their clients tomorrow asking for individual feedback on how we can improve?
The first one is what most managers would send. It’s quicker. Easier. But dull af and provokes 0 inspiration in your team.
The second is inspiring, allows us to draw on passion, and reminds us we’re working toward something bigger than ourselves.
So rule of thumb, to be inspiring, you need to be constantly connecting your team’s work to the bigger mission of your business.
Connect tasks to purpose, and remind them of it regularly
Start practicing on a small level
Practice it in emails, on slack or however you communicate with your team regularly. Everything’s easier to practice communicating digitally because you can edit.
But once you get good, practice doing it in meetings or in 121s.
Eventually you’ll be doing it naturally
The next 121 you have with a member of your team, connect their individual role to the big mission. Help them to see how their work is so important to the bigger picture.
Then watch their eyes sparkle as you inspire them with their work.
Peace,
H