The Inspiration Myth
Denise (not her real name) intentionally designs her life – at work and home. She is an open listener and discerns the fluff from the stuff. An articulate communicator, she brings an earnestness to our conversations, a focus, a sense of purpose. She loves her job and dreams of infusing the leadership domain with her spirit. When it comes to opportunities outside her comfort zone, she’s cautious. Her energy is calm and grounded. Denise inspires me. She moves me to balance making things happen with letting things happen.
“Inspiring” is not a word Denise would use to describe herself. Don’t inspiring people need to be charismatic, high energy, maybe even loud or flamboyant? Don’t they need to stand on stage, be “someone,” and have something smart and novel to say? Don’t they need to be compelling storytellers with a platform and heroic deeds to espouse or trailblazing ideas to promote? Nope. Inspiring people simply need to move you.
I first became attuned to my ability to inspire 20 years ago as a management consultant in a Big 4 firm. I remember being in front of a group of new consultants with a whiteboard and a handful of markers, drawing process flows filled with if/then decisions, unaware at the time that I was both geeking out and inspiring individuals who would find their own calling in our work. What I did notice is how the light in people’s eyes came on when something clicked, something sparked. After the training, one of the consultants approached me and commented, “your passion for what we do and why we do it is inspiring.” I liked hearing that! I liked even more seeing how that consultant – and others on our team – channeled that inspiration for the benefit of our clients and our firm. Those sparks turned into a flame.
Since those early days, my interest in awakening inspiration in others has grown. I am convinced that one’s ability to inspire – or move – people has little to do with their own personality and far more to do with their focus on and belief in others. One definition of inspire is to “breathe air into.” The opposite is to suck air out of. Each of us has the ability to breathe air into – or suck air out of – an environment, a team, an individual. You don’t have to be great on stage or Tony Robbins-level entertaining. You can just be you.
When it comes to inspiration, I hold two beliefs: 1) the ability to inspire is within everyone; 2) there is a direct connection between inspiration and authenticity. It is from those beliefs that I offer you these insights on how you can be a source of inspiration for others:
1. Care About Those You Serve
Believe that everyone wants to bring their unique contributions to the game. Then get curious about what those unique contributions are. Generously engage people in ways that are meaningful to them. Inspiration is about them, not you! When it comes to serving, exercise humility and take on roles that are outside the bounds of your job description. Want a great example? Listen to the story of the Italian chef, Massimo Bottura, in this Hidden Brain podcast: Rebel With A Cause
2. Feel First
To inspire is to fill someone with the urge to feel or do something. Feelings trump thoughts when it comes to awakening inspiration in others. Whether you are charismatic, joyful, analytical, or calm, speak from and to the heart. Engage the heart through conversations that pull on purpose, values, you own stories. Show enthusiasm. There will be a time and place for the logical, rational, data driven discussions, but data doesn’t move the heart.
3. Be You
There is nothing more inspiring than someone owning their authenticity, unapologetically. You know what it looks and feels like when someone is being authentic: 1) their words match their actions; 2) they are consistent in how they show up across all dimensions of their life; 3) they are comfortable with themselves… their whole selves. You also know what it looks and feels like when someone is inauthentic, or phony. If you want to inspire others for good, resist being someone you are not.
4. Ask
Fully expressed inspiration doesn’t stop at the feeling, it continues through the act. Inspiration is awakened, not driven. Sparks are fanned into a flame. Simply asking the question, “How will you honor what inspires you?” can be enough to encourage action.
My conversation with Denise was the spark that led to this post. Let it debunk any myths surrounding your ability to inspire people on your team, in your organization, in your whole life.