No two people have the exact same thoughts on what is or is not inspiring. However, there are a few things that are globally considered to be inspirational. We hear stories almost daily about teachers, coaches, leaders, and sometimes everyday individuals who have inspired others by their word, acts or simply how they conduct themselves. Inspiration comes in many forms, but what exactly is inspiration? What that does word really mean?
Let's start with the textbook definition. If you do a google search on the definition of inspiration, you will find a few different variation of what defines inspiration but the most common replies that come back are; "The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative." "A person or thing that inspires." "A sudden brilliant or timely idea." and of course there is the literal physical act of inspiration referring to taking in a breath which for this post is not of relevance but yet very important. So if we take the first three definitions, we can see that inspiration can be a process, a person or an idea. What it would mean to me then is that inspiration can de summed up as one of those things that you can really describe it with accuracy in a way that will generate a universal image but you can certainly recognize it when you see it. Has anyone ever inspired you to change your life in a significant way that made you healthier, happier, or more fulfilled? If so, you understand the difference that positive inspiration can make in a person’s life. Inspiration is powerful, but it isn’t easy. Would you like to return the favor by making a positive difference in the life of your friends, family, or co-workers? If you want to be a positive influence capable of inspiring your loved ones to become better versions of themselves, there are a few common traits that are found in people that tend to inspire. If you can’t show a person that you genuinely care about them, do you think you will be able to inspire them? The answer is a resounding, “NO!” Show people you care through your words and your actions as even the smallest acts of kindness can go a long way. When you start with that, it can cascade. The saying “enthusiasm is contagious” is common enough to be cliché, but it’s a cliché because it’s true. Reflect enthusiasm every day to the people you are in contact with and I’m willing to wager if you are genuine in your human interactions, over the long haul, smiles, positive energy, and caring concern will be returned exponentially. Their is a saying that trust is hard to earn but easy to lose. Throughout my coaching and work careers, not to mention personal interactions, I have found this to be very true. Avoiding workplace gossip or unnecessary drama in your social networks may lead you to be see as a positive influence that people are unafraid to talk to. It’s easy to criticize people, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Think about it: how do you react if someone insults your intelligence, makes fun of your outfit, or criticizes your performance? Whether the criticism is justified or not, I bet you get upset. No one likes to be criticized, so if you don’t have anything positive to say, don’t say it at all. It’s easy to let the everyday stresses affect your confidence and self esteem as a human being, but if you want to inspire people around you, learn to stand your ground through thick and thin. Stand firm if you want to show the people around you that even the worst of circumstances can be overcome with positive thinking, continuous improvement, and the ability to rise above while focusing on the positives. Now, that is something that everyone will acknowledge is much easier said than done. Although it is important to not flinch when life throws us a curve-ball, it is equally important to acknowledge the fact that we are all human beings here, and thus are all inherently flawed. Everyone has at least one glaring weakness or two, so accept your short-comings to humanize yourself so people can relate to you on a deeper level. Show me a person who claims to be without fault and I’ll show you a liar. How people react to insults or criticism speaks highly about their ability to inspire others. If you respond to hate with more hate, how are you any better than the person who started the confrontation? ( authors note at this point and small hint: you’re not!) No matter how out-of-place or harsh an insult was, it’s best to stay calm and cool, because getting upset will not make you feel any better (and it certainly won’t inspire people around you). Shrug off insults like they didn’t happen and those who witness your unflinching nature might be inspired to do the same. Being a good communicator requires the ability to listen AND understand. Anyone can hear the words other people say, but not many people can actively listen and comprehend those words to fully understand the meaning behind them. Make eye-contact if someone talks to you about their problems and ask follow-up questions to show them you care about what they are going through and want to understand where they are coming from as well as you can. One common thing about inspirational individuals is that they are unafraid to challenge convention, to get out of their comfort zones and dare to be ambitious even under the toughest of conditions. No one will be inspired by a person who resigns themselves to “reality” (such a dreadful place that sounds devoid of hope or personal growth in my opinion). Be ambitious, aim high, and never surrender if you want to inspire people that they, too, can accomplish anything they set their mind to. The simply way you carry yourself can be inspirational, body language is a power tool. Keep your head high and eyes forward so you can say, “Hello,” or, “How are you?” to everyone you walk past. Walk with a friendly swagger that reflects confidence in who you are. No matter how wonderful you are, you’re just one person, so I’m sure others have contributed to your greatest successes in life. If you are seen as someone that can inspire, or are recognized as a good leader, then I am pretty sure that it is in some if not large part because somewhere along your path, there was someone who made your life a little bit better or was able to motivate you to lead your life a certain way. Acknowledge these contributions publicly if at all possible to show people you’re humble and thoughtful enough to give credit where it’s due. We are all equal human beings regardless of our gender, politics, race, religion, and other factors. Love and care for people without consideration of these irrelevant factors that have no influence on the quality of a person. Treat others how they want to be treated, no matter their background, to inspire trust and confidence. When you field yourself in a leadership role, when you are trying to inspire, it can be very easy and tempting to take on the traits of those people who have influenced you in some way. A lot of us have a variety of “selves” that come out depending on the social situation: home, work, and friends all require a different image that we might work to project. But putting on a different show for every group of people you encounter is super exhausting, and it’s certainly not a good way to inspire people around you. Would you place your confidence in a person who was so uncomfortable in their personality that they felt the need to pander to whatever crowd they were with? Embrace your true self without apology. Anyone who thinks they have all the answers is kidding themselves, so make a point of challenging your beliefs on a regular basis. If you’re fiscally conservative, explore a well-thought out piece by someone on the opposite end of the political spectrum so you can see the other side of the story. Have conversations with people who believe differently than you do to learn what makes them tick. It’s unlikely you’ll change your mind, and if you really believe something with conviction, it should hold up to scrutiny. Your openness will show others that you are so firm in your convictions that you’re willing to challenge your beliefs. You’ll also develop trust in people who think differently than you do, who otherwise might have been afraid to approach you. Don’t merely give people step-by-step advice, but instead give them the freedom to figure it out by themselves. No one likes a micro-manager. If you’re asked for help, deliver a rough guideline to get a person moving in the right direction, but intentionally leave something left to the imagination so they will have the freedom to fill-in-the-blanks. When a person discovers they are capable of figuring things out by their lonesome, they will discover they are more powerful than they ever thought possible. So if you made it all the way to this point, you might come to the conclusion that I've really oversimplified who to be an inspiration. If you know me fairly well, you could draw that conclusion that my actions don't match my words, at least not the ones that I have put down in today's blog-post. You would right on both accounts. There is a lot of do as I say and not as I do in this article and I have presented a somewhat utopian view of how easy it can be to inspire those around you. What I would say is that knowing how is just a start to the process, find your own way to try and be inspiring is a challenge, and being able to do it consistently is probably one of the toughest things you might experience in life. As I was writing today's words, there were parts that I thought about and really identified with and others that I know I come up short on many time. All I can say is that each day, I wake up striving to reach the ideals I have written about today, sometimes, I succeed, sometimes I fail but I also try.
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AuthorAfter many years of coaching at various levels and with different teams, I thought I would share some of my experiences and thoughts about coaching. Archives
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