If you want to use the most powerful tool available to get things done, use the power of inspiration. It is the one tool available to convince someone to do anything—that’s worth doing
Inspiration as a way to persuade people to get things done has fallen off the screen in the world today as a means of getting things done. It’s actually fallen into disrepute. Inspiration today often has a bad reputation.
Historically, inspiration has been the key to motivation.
Marc Anthony moved the whole Roman Empire with one single speech denoucing the assassination of Julius Ceasar in BC 44 on the Ides of March. When he told the crowds that Caesar, his lifeless body before him filled with stab wounds, was not a power-hungry tyrant, but one who loved them, they were ready to turn on his assassins. When he told them that Caesar in his will had left each one 75 drachmas, they were ready to begin the revolt that changed the course of history.
Winston Churchill united a nation against Nazi Germany with his inspiring rhetoric announcing, “Blood, sweat and tears.”
John F. Kennedy rallied Americans with his rousing challenge, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country.”
With segregated black and white fountains and separate entries in restaurants for races, Martin Luther King countered with, “I have a dream.”
Today any of those speeches would most probably be denounced as self-serving, manipulative, and inappropriate.
Inspiration isn’t dead, it’s just sleeping, waiting to be awakened to the sounds of sights of people who are motivated by the dream of building, achieving, loving, and lifting up, leaving behind the legacy of anger, hate and division we so often experience today.
Business is inspiring.
It’s shocking to many, but I find more inspiration in business than the rest of society. It is a world looked down upon as rampant with greed and injustice.
Yet I don’t have to look hard for inspiration in business. It’s right before my eyes:
- Covid vaccinations developed and delivered in a year.
- Healthcare saving thousands of lives every month.
- Businesses providing employment under the most difficult of circumstances
- People getting haircuts, moving into houses, are fed and clothed and move about because of business.
I think the most important thing we can do is to buy into the fact that inspiration is back. Life is short and days are few, and you have to do more than lead me—you have to inspire me that what you’re wanting me to do is worth a precious hour of my time.
How do I as a leader use inspiration?
- Almost Anyone Can Be Inspired. How do you inspire someone who resists inspiration? There are people who put up barriers to being inspired by anything because of cynicism, fear of being manipulated, or simply that being inspired just isn’t cool. It’s true you can’t get a sloth to run a marathon. I love sloths and watching them perched in trees they rarely leave. Some people are like that. Some people are very difficult to inspire. There are techniques to penetrate the armor of really difficult people.
- Touch the Needs that People Feel About Deeply. Here you need to create connection and trust. You have to spend the time to ask questions and to engage regularly. The more contact you have with a person on a regular basis, the more likely they are to trust you. Many people will nod their heads wisely about the opportunity of your organization to change the world, but what they are concerned about is their security, now and going forward, caring for their children, fear of failure and humiliation, and often fear of success and the new changes of lifestyle that would require. You can actually attach yourself to those real hopes and fears and create an inspiring message.
- Believe in the Person You Want to Inspire—Chances Are No One Else Has. You cannot inspire or motivate a person you don’t genuinely care about and believe in. We often don’t want to invest time and emotion in a person whom we believe may ultimately fail. Yet if I never believe in a person enough to invest my faith in them, they may not fail, but certainly I’ll never lead them through inspiration. I don’t have to believe this person is Einstein or Mother Theresa, but I have to believe they’re capable of fulfilling their role and to inspire them to be far better than they thought they could be.
- Inspire People with What You Love and Value. Studies have proven time and again that people are waiting for someone to inspire them with ideas they value. If you love and value what you do or want to accomplish, people will be moved by the power and passion of your own personality.
- Create Significance for People. There are a few people who just want to get out of whatever they’re doing. In point of fact, a recent study shows that over 50% of people would quit their jobs today given a reliable income. I don’t blame those people at all. Many jobs are boring and are in boring organizations. But a deep need for many people is to do something significant with their lives. You can tap into the need for people’s significance by telling them that what they do and who they are is important.
- Recruit and Re-recruit. One of the most enduring symbols of the last 100 years is the poster of Uncle Sam with his finger pointed out saying, “Uncle Sam Needs You!” It was compelling because the message was simple, direct, and always seen. You can tap into the need of people to be part of something bigger than themselves, to create something that will live long after we’re gone.
People recruit, but they don’t re-recruit. What we believed in passionately fades as we live in a world of such multiple and conflicting things we have to do. If you haven’t told people why what they’re doing is important, tell them today, tomorrow and the next day. We live on being told once again why we do what we do. - In Order to Inspire, Create an Environment of Fun. If you’re not creating an atmosphere of fun in your organization, humor is perhaps the best tool to create inspiration. Some leaders get up and present the best spreadsheets possible, check on where we are in terms of milestones, and assign tasks to do. If you’re not creating fun and humor in the workplace, my recommendation is to go to YouTube every day and listen to comedians with great insights and timing. If you were raised in an environment that lacked humor, learn to use humor to inspire. People follow people who are funny.
Planning and strategy are key for an organization to survive and thrive. You have to have the numbers together with the plan. Inspiration, however, is the rocket fuel to success. Steve Jobs was perhaps the most innovative person of the 20th Century, and the Apple Empire is built on his ideas and creativity. Steve Jobs could mesmerize anyone he could corner with his vision of the future. A bloodless, humorless approach will fail if people don’t see the bright light of inspiration before them.
