The Only Way to Inspire Others
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Martin Luther King inspired people not because he had a dream but because he touched the silent dream of others. He said what mattered to others.
Leaders that busily talk about themselves and their terrific dreams are bores. Inspiring others, like everything else in leadership, is about them not you.
The channel to inspiring others is hearts not heads. You’ll never reason others into dedicated engagement and passionate loyalty.
Your vision is a good idea, at best, until it connects with hearts. You inspire others when you tap into what matters to them, values.
Seeing another person’s values:
- Talk the language of universal values. For example, everyone values feeling important, respected, and useful.
- Universal values come before individual values. For example, making people feel respected opens the door to understand personal values.
- Ask what then why. A few what questions followed by a long series of why questions uncover values.
What questions:
- What energizes you?
- What makes you angry?
- What would you do if all jobs paid the same? (Thanks Joe Tye for that one.)
- What are you doing when you feel happiest?
Why questions:
- Why do you feel energized when you solve problems?
- Why are you feeling frustrated? One reason people are frustrated is urgencies push them away from their values.
- Why is the schedule so important to you?
- Why do you care about … ?
Keep asking why until basic values begin emerging. It’s not as simple as it sounds. Uncovering the values of others is a long process. Many people haven’t articulated their values. When they find themselves, however, they immediately begin engaging in meaningful activities.
Principle:
The process is worth the effort. You inspire others by aligning organizational mission/vision with individual values.
Can you add some what and why questions to the mix?
How do you uncover the values of others?
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Hi Dan, nothing to add to your list of questions – great post. I’d just encourage leaders to accept the values of others. It’s human nature to evangelize our own values, which is another way of diminishing other values. That’s what’s at the heart of all the political dysfunction we see. It certainly will not inspire. Inspiration comes from connecting our vision with what other people value.
Nice add Greg.
Another important point is your #1 value may be down on my list. We can still inspire each other.
Best,
Dan
Thanks for this post – some practical tips for doing some very important work.
I often see leaders lose people (physically, mentally, or emotionally) because those leaders assume they know what really matters to their people, but don’t take the time to test those assumptions.
The only thing I’d add is this: if you’re asking the “What / Why” questions, but people are having a difficult time articulating the “What,” possibly start with “When” questions.
As in, “Can you tell me about a time WHEN you felt really good about what you were doing?” Then you can delve into “what” it was that was working.
I like the when question. Good addition.
Thanks for adding to the conversation Tim.
A perfect post to top off a week of great ones! I find myself accumulating quotes that mesh with the tone of what you wrote today. I 100% concur with the idea that ideas must “touch the silent dreams of others” to flourish.
Can you add some what and why questions to the mix?
I would add “What task or initiative in your life do you never ever procrastinate on?” This is such a small fragment of my life (and one I am not especially good at) but when I have a “craft” project that needs to be done for my blog’s sake, I can’t wait to pick up the supplies and start playing with them (so that I can write about them and photograph them). Maybe the message there for me is that I need that tangible “something to touch” as part of my happiness when involved in a project. Although I love words (obviously), there is a special magic for me in attaching those words to something I have made, touched, or photographed.
For the “why,” maybe “Why do you continue doing ______?” This could either lead to the discovery that the individual is going through motions out of a sense of obligation (because someone would be disappointed if I stopped – often a volunteer quandary) or that the individual is tapping into something that could lead them to a happier mindset (because I love it!).
How do you uncover the values of others?
You know the first thing that comes to mind in our current world, and because i read a lot of blogs, is to read their writing. Not formal papers, but blog posts, FB statuses, even tweets. I am firmly convinced you can make a pretty accurate guess about most people’s values from reading their writing.
Wonderful Paula!
I hadn’t even considered the social media component.
My hope is LF readers will take this seriously. Insensitivity to the values of others is a leadership disaster.
Cheers,
Dan
I totally agree with this article. The only insight I would add is that conversation is not the only way to identify people’s values. You could give them time and space to introspect – maybe using a questionnaire to help the explore their thoughts. You can also use your powers of observation to see people’s reaction to events and see when they are energized and what causes frustration.
Simon,
Thanks for adding self-reflection to the list. Love it.
Cheers,
Dan
I really enjoyed this article. One insight I would add is related to Simon’s comment. Observe people playing! Our events give great insight into what values people have by their participation, enthusiasm and team play. Design some fun time around observing peoples values.
Great point Steve, that is when people are most ‘disarmed’ and most themselves…and when they may be most naturally engaged in what they are doing.
Inspiring others by aligning organizational mission/vision with individual values; is essential to the success of any organization.
Inspiring others requires the skillful balance of challenging other direct & indirectly while providing them with the freedom needed to discover their values on their own.
What are you good at doing?
What do you do in any aspect of your life that is not for your benefit? Why do you do that?
A big thanks for the great post.
“Why” is the most important. It is the most difficult to answer and the most rewarding in the end.
I would add that the challenge is to inspire by example. We cannot change anyone but ourselves. It is only by working on our own selves, we do something great and set an example.
Since the commentary on the post has included introspective work on individual values, readers may find the Personal Alignment Protocol from the Core Protocols / Simple Rules and Tools helpful.
This Protocol encourages one to determine what value they would like to amplify in themselves to help achieve their goals.
The Core Protocols are open source material from McCarthy Technologies available for anyone to use. They are particularly helpful for team building & long term team dynamics.
The complete package is available for anyone to use from http://www.businessimprovementresults.com/TheCoreProtocols.pdf. There are no strings attached, no follow on phone calls, spam, etc.
When you use the material please respect the source and the GNU licence.
Cheers, Paul Reeves
I enjoyed your nod to Joe…what would you do…as that is a very open-ended and revealing question. The follow up might be, how would/could you incorporate any of ‘what you would do’ into what you are doing now? Both very future oriented, not past. Get’s us looking ahead at what we wish.
Great post Dan! Your focus on values is the key, and I agree with your point about uncovering values being a long process. It’s easy to get distracted by the “fires” that need to be put out, but patience and focus win the day if you want to inspire. Thanks.
I’m getting caught up after a weekend away.
I try to stay away from “Why” questions as much as possible. “Why” puts people into their heads and gets them into rationalization and analysis. Start with “What energizes you?” and then “What’s energizing about that?” or “What’s that energy like? What’s inspirational about it? What does it bring forth in you? What’s different as you look at your work from this higher-energy perspective?” “What would a work environment that stimulated that energy more often look like?” Staying in sense/feeling mode as you drill down into a question often yields different and more resonant perspective.
“Why” is helpful, but it’s one I really try to wait on, because it changes the tenor of the conversation too fast.
Another way to get at values is to go from the other side. “What really ticks you off? What’s really hard for you to be with?” The negatives will often show a positive value that’s being stepped on.
Thanks for this one. I tend to think a lot about values while I’m ministering to others. We are definitely diverse creatures. I heard you’re in the hospital. I’ll be praying for you.