Motivate and inspire. These two words are often used interchangeably, echoed perpetually in the minds of any leader trying to spearhead the charge. \u00a0However, view the two as the same and you are missing a critical component in your growth as a senior executive. \u00a0Why? \u00a0Motivation is of the ego, while inspiration is of the soul. Knowing how to motivate can make you a phenomenal boss, while knowing how to inspire will solidify your future as a phenomenal leader.<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/em>Motivation<\/em><\/strong> is when you get hold of an idea and carry it through to its conclusion, and <\/em>inspiration<\/em><\/strong> is when an idea gets hold of you and carries you where you are intended to go.\u201d<\/em> Being inspirational can be a trait that appears to be intangible; you either have it or you don\u2019t. \u00a0It seems that individuals like Winston Churchill, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and Tony Robbins were most certainly born as charismatic and influential individuals. \u00a0So, if being inspirational to others is something we all want, but it\u2019s something you are and not something you get, then inspiration must be impossible to teach, right?\u00a0 Not quite.<\/p>\n Turns out, inspirational leadership can be built with thoughtful and measured practice. \u00a0There\u2019s even an incredibly easy place to start.<\/p>\n You.\u00a0 Want to be inspirational to others? \u00a0You must first be inspired yourself.<\/p>\n Think about it; reflect upon some of the individuals in your life who have inspired you. \u00a0You will see a common thread between them all \u2013 you fed off of their enthusiasm. \u00a0If you don\u2019t know where you are going, how can you expect those around you to be inspired to join you on the journey?<\/p>\n Great leaders have a crystal-clear vision for what the future holds, and they can articulate that vision precisely and with contagious energy. \u00a0Martin Luther King Jr\u2019s \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech is proof of his ability to paint a picture so clearly that it almost seems we are already living in the future state. \u00a0To truly inspire, you must start from within:<\/p>\n Highly successful people ask the right questions, and thus, they receive the answers that help them advance in life.<\/p>\n Change from the Inside Out<\/strong> That connection is what keeps individuals tethered to a mission and a leader for years and decades to come. When a leader is able to reach in and inspire the hearts and minds of individuals, those individuals are changed from the inside out. When people want to take action because there is a deeply connected desire from within, that action is sustainable and infinitely more meaningful.<\/p>\n Perpetual Improvement<\/strong> Don\u2019t be afraid to set your team free. Open the gates and let the human need for autonomy and significance flourish. \u00a0People want to do well and succeed but can sometimes be suppressed by your own need for control or cumbersome processes within the organization. \u00a0Inspire others by giving them a purpose they connect with, a timeline for results, and the authority to act.<\/p>\n Hardest Worker in the Room<\/strong> Don\u2019t mistake this final point; this doesn\u2019t mean you need to be the first one in and last one out every day without exception. \u00a0In fact, many times the \u201cbusiest\u201d people are the ones who simply manage their time the poorest. \u00a0Unplugging or taking time off is important, but the team should be able to clearly see your dedication to doing the hard work to achieve success. \u00a0You will be thrilled to see the byproduct of that dedication when the rest of the team follows in your direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Motivate and inspire. These two words are often used interchangeably, echoed perpetually in the minds of any leader trying to spearhead the charge. \u00a0However, view the two as the same and you are missing a critical component in your growth as a senior executive. \u00a0Why? \u00a0Motivation is of the ego, while inspiration is of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u2013 Dr Wayne Dyer<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\nFocusing on motivation is the comfort zone of many in a leadership role. Motivation can be wildly effective as it forces us to keep up, compete, and compare ourselves to others. \u00a0Motivation works as it compels us to take action, to push past limits, and do more than we thought possible. But motivation without inspiration is temporary, and it can become exhausting.<\/strong> \u00a0Though motivation can drive results, inspiration drives the\u00a0purpose<\/em>\u00a0connected to those results<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nOne of the strongest value propositions a leader can give to an employee is the ability for that individual to perpetually grow in all dimensions. \u00a0The message that someone else believes in you, sees potential and growth in you, can be a powerful connector. Obvious areas of growth include professionally as well as personally, but do not overlook the importance of financial, mental, and spiritual growth as well. \u00a0In nature, plants either grow or decompose; they do not stay the same. In an organization, nourishment is supplied by the broad term of training, but a more accurate term is\u00a0learning<\/em>. What is being done within your organization to foster learning, growth, and new perspectives each week?<\/p>\n
\nWhen the team is out of gas, you inject more fuel. \u00a0When the team doesn\u2019t know what to do next, you lead by example. \u00a0Whether acknowledged or not, employees want to see a leader who is desperately hungry for the mission to succeed and will do whatever is needed, whenever it\u2019s needed, to get the work done.<\/p>\n