Average leaders raise the bar on themselves; good leaders raise the bar for others; great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar. ~ Orrin Woodward
There are days when
motivating yourself is a challenge. So how then, do we inspire others to raise their own bar? Being a leader, after all, is about more than setting the agenda and delegating tasks. Ignite the spark of inspiration in others (and yourself!) by making these 6 steps part of your leadership approach.
Challenge them.
Don’t set the bar within the comfort zone, notched in place by previous accomplishments and status quo. It not easy to stretch and grow, but it’s easier to do it when someone throws the gauntlet down and challenges us to do so. Set expectations for yourself and others that tap into the potential and not just the proven.
Create a safe space for failure.
The thing about leaving your comfort zone is that sometimes you stumble. Sometimes you fall. Occasionally you fly and soar.
Remove the stigma and fear of failing. Learning to take calculated risk is an important requirement of growth. If it doesn’t work, it’s a learning experience.
Care about others.
Setting expectations and creating a pro-growth environment only goes so far. People are inspired by those who care about them and show it. This means asking questions and
actively listening. It also means being realistic about the goals you do set for others. You want people to strive to reach their own potential, so take the time to discern what that is.
Give compliments, constructive feedback, and credit.
No matter how confident you are when you strike out to conquer a new goal, feeling like you’re moving blindly down the path can paralyze your progress. Don’t leave your team hanging. Make sure they know you’re aware of their progress by complimenting when appropriate and providing constructive feedback when needed. Also give credit where credit is due.
Delegate and then get out of the way.
One of the best ways to kill someone else’s motivation and drive to succeed is to micromanage their progress. Recognize that sometimes people have a different path to get to the end game. As long as milestones are being met and progress is being made, be willing to step back and let it happen. Don Shula is the winningest coach in NFL history with 490 victories. He didn’t throw or catch one pass in any of those wins. He laid out the game plan. He gave the ball to players who he trusted could get the job done, and he let them do it.
Tap into experience.
Want to inspire others? Reflect on who has inspired you. What was it about that teacher, coach, manager or mentor that pushed you reach a little further than you thought you could? Figure out what lit your spark and use it to get that spark going in others.
If you feel like you need a little inspiration for yourself before you can ignite the spark in others, let’s talk.
Contact my office for a chat: 917-992-2928. Or email cyoung@creativeblueprints.com.
