Inspire the Fire: Thoughts on Motivating People
As a parent, father and business leader, I’ve often wondered, “What puts the fire in people’s bellies?
I like to think that everyone has their own motivational drivers, their own reason to get up in the morning and start the day. But time and experience has taught me that these motivators vary widely between people and are often hard to ferret out.
So, how can you inspire people if you don’t know what moves them?
In reality, many people have never consciously thought about what drives them. That means that leaders often have to draw these attributes out in order to spark the fire within.
In his Lifehack article, The Simplest Ways to Inspire People and Change Their Life, Daniel Wallen provides a comprehensive list for helping bring out the best in people:
1. Care
2. Be Enthusiastic
3. Earn Trust
4. If It’s Not Positive, Don’t Say It
5. Build People Up
6. Stand Your Ground — Be Consistent
7. Admit Your Flaws
8. Be an Active Listener
9. Reach for the Stars
10. Provide Constructive Criticism
11. Treat Everyone Equally
12. Walk with Confidence
13. Stay Calm and Cool
14. Share Your Influences
15. Acknowledge Contributions of Others
16. Keep Your Promises
17. Stay True to Who You Are
18. Explore Alternative Thoughts and Ideas
19. Never Add Insult to Injury
20. Allow People the Freedom to Figure Things Out Themselves
What I find most interesting about this list is that it contains many of the tenets of Servant Leadership. It seems almost ironic or counter-intuitive that to inspire, motivate and lead people, you need to serve them first.
Is this crazy talk?!!
Maybe not, accordingly to Robert Greenleaf, the Godfather of Servant Leadership. In his seminal essay on this concept, Greenleaf points out that:
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first…”
“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served… A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”
So maybe, it all starts with sincerely caring about those around you. By putting people first and genuinely caring about them as human beings, we begin to motivate, inspire and lead in a meaningful way.
Now that’s a fire that warms the heart, mind and belly.
