Talkin' Inspiration

A leader/manager can choose to be the continuous source of inspiration to her employees, or she can opt to provide inspiration they might own for themselves.

Given that you have a great deal of work to do, I'm betting the second option is more appealing.

Keeping in mind the distinction between inspiration and motivation, I offer you 4 conversation techniques you can use to plant the inspiration seed (or spark the inspiration flame?)...and then turn it over for your people to nurture (or fan) themselves.

These techniques are based entirely upon communication with your employees. The communication is very definitely two-way; it is not at all your telling them the inspirational.

Take a look:

Talk about the company. Whether it's early in one's time on board or not, it is never too late (or too often) to talk about the company, its goals and objectives, its plans, its structure, its policy and procedures, and more. Once the conversation is rolling, ask the employee for his insights, his observations, his perceptions of the company. This encourages his sense of ownership of the company's meaning and matter, and it provides you the opportunity to clarify and expand as necessary. Both an ownership sense and an increased awareness can fuel his inspired view of where he works.

Talk about expectations. A key to successful employee engagement is clear understanding of what is expected. You can move to inspired engagement by expanding employee perspectives on expectations. You may express what the job expectations are and what the general company expectations of those in its workforce are. Then ask the employee for her expectations. What does she expect from the company? What does she expect of herself and her performance? What expectations does she have of her manager/supervisor?  This, too, is not just an orientation conversation. This can happen any time (and more than once) in an individual's career.

Talk about can do. Don't allow the job, the job description, the job function to limit any individual. As manager/leader you have the power to engage an employee in discussion of what he can do to make his work more productive, to expand his performance parameters, to contribute more (or better) to the company. The individual who wishes to realize dreams as part of his job (or career) is part-way inspired already. You can stimulate similar dreams in other employees as well. Ask a variety of "what if" and "if you could" and "would you like to" questions. Allow/encourage the employee to voice without regard for the possible/impossible.

Talk about the good. Sometimes we get so accustomed to where we are, what we do, and with whom we do it that we lose track of what makes it good. The rediscovery of the good has greater value when one recalls it for herself, rather than being reminded of it. Open-ended discussion may begin with some praise or compliment to set the stage. Then all you have to do is ask for her reflections on the positives of the company, the team, the job, her performance. The answers of what is good allow you opportunity to offer additional support that continues--even increases--the positives.

You want to engage your people in these conversations. You want to draw them into the conversation by patiently inviting their input. And it may well require your patience to allow them to become comfortable elaborating their points of view, their desires and dreams, their appreciations.

But when it makes them feel inspired for the place where they work, the people with whom they work, and the work they do, your patience has paid off. Big time, I'll bet.  

Comments

[David Zinger]

Tim:
I like how you started with talk, moved to ask, and created listening to inspire employees. I often think to inspire others we must inspire oursevles with a bit of concious breathing and as we breathe we create a space for employee to talk and for us to listen.
David

[Tim Wright]

Thanks, David.

I think what is critical to effective, successful communication, whatever its purpose, is keeping in mind that it involves both sending and receiving (speaking and listening)...and on top of all that is paying attention.