“The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.”
– Ernest Newman
As you work, do you become more inspired? Are your teammates becoming more inspired as they work? When I am doing work that uses my talents, passions and results in me having an impact, I become more inspired. I feel encouraged and energized by living in purpose. My work is something that I give of myself to others and a bigger mission that can inspire me. Can you relate?
Sometimes, we know what it is like to feel inspired by going through situations that have uninspired us. This was brought home to me by going through an experience where I was being asked to donate to be a part of helping a person reach a greater mission. I believed in the mission, the desired impact and felt a connection to be involved. However, instead of the person following up to connect to me as a person and how I could share in the vision, I got continually reminded by texts from an external system to please donate. Each text that I received felt more like nagging. I felt like an object through which someone could get something and not like a valuable person who was a part of a team to a mission. My inspiration tanked.
When we are asked to continually give without being recognized as a person, this can lead to fatigue. The above story is an example of contributing to donor fatigue, but this same situation can happen at work too. At work, we can think that people are being inspired by recognizing what they do such as through a paycheck. People just need to get their work done, and we will nag if we have to. But an overflow of energy, motivation, and inspiration (wouldn’t it be great to have this kind of energy with your team?) comes from letting people know that you truly see them with their unique abilities, passions, and impact. It is celebrating the outcome of who they are and how they live their story, not just what they have accomplished.
So, how do we avoid fatigue and instead tap into inspiration? We do this through building and maintaining a team through connection to purpose. I say this, and I get how ethereal this can feel. We have to-do lists, deadlines and KPI’s to achieve. We have enough on our plates to fill our day. This is why connecting to purpose will take intention. The to-do list will always scream with urgency, but if we invest in ways that build purpose, you will be building into a well of internal energy that wont easily run dry. Instead of having to shore up poor retention or low morale, the energy of your team will propel you forward so that the to-do lists do get done and results happen.
Here are some ways to connect to purpose with your team:
Be Curious about their Talents, Strengths, and Unique Abilities
This is more than just checking off if they have the abilities to meet a job description. It is more than just filling a job position hole. They may initially get on your team through a hiring process but go further. Get to know them more, observe and be curious. Which of their talents or strengths gets them excited. How can they be a part of assignments that connect to this? Are you giving them opportunities to expand their skills? Do you encourage them in the learning process and that mistakes are a part of learning? What stretch assignments have they enjoyed and why? Share with them also the potential that you see in them.
Be Curious about their Passions
What energizes them? People can have different kinds of motivators. Some are energized through knowledge. They like to research and learn. Others may enjoy working with people. Some people like working with methodologies such as applying traditional systems or developing new systems. You may find people who are driven by results where others get energy through collaboration of idea building.
You may also ask about what passions they have outside of work. What is most important to them? What are they passionate about outside of work?
Be Curious of where they want to have Impact
To have purpose, we need to know that we are having impact. Ask them for an example of a time when they felt they had a big impact? What about it was impactful for them? When did they feel like they had impact at work in the last week? Take time to point out where you see them having impact.
Practically ways to apply:
- Have one-on-one meetings with your team members
- Set aside time beyond just reviewing task lists to be curious and ask some of the questions from above.
A leader was struggling with low morale of his team. He had gotten feedback that the team felt belittled and disconnected from him. He decided to change his approach and become curious with his team members. This included intentionally scheduling time to be around them and ask questions to get to know them better. Previously after team meetings, people would scatter. He was surprised that by changing his approach, people were now hanging around after meetings, asking questions, and being engaged in work. They were becoming inspired!
What is one way that you will build into the inspiration of others? Where can you be curious? What are some questions you will ask to connect to the purpose of others, so they feel seen and then inspired?