While leaders are meant to get results, one of their other responsibilities is to inspire those they lead. Leaders are meant to build up, create, and move people.
There are leaders who are failing at this. But not you. You desire to build people, create new leaders, and move them to new heights.
In this article, we will look at 5 ways you can inspire and motivate your team to the next level.
Inspire Your Team: 5 Ways To Lead By Example And Motivate Others
1. Be Accountable:
We hold our teams accountable, but do we hold ourselves accountable? Do we allow those we lead to hold us accountable?
You can motivate and inspire your team by being accountable.
This means you’re open to the feedback of your team. If they see you doing something wrong, you’re willingness to let them approach you is paramount to them being inspired.
They will see that they don’t have to be perfect. That correction and advice are good things.
Don’t hide behind the corner office. Get out there and be accountable.
2. Be Supportive:
A killer of inspiration is a leader who isn’t supportive. Have you ever been led by someone who tells you that you can’t get the resources needed to accomplish the task at hand? Or maybe they were unwilling to lend a helping hand?
Supportive leaders create inspired team members.
Team members see their leaders pitching in, doing the work. They see leaders who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
Support your teams in whatever way they need it. You’re not at the top because you’ve risen above them. You’re at the top because you’ve found a way to be supportive and grow people.
3. Stay Positive:
Negative Nancys or Debbie Downers destroy inspired people within organizations. The people who work alongside these Nancys or Debbies feel dragged down by the negative energy entering the room.
Don’t be that person. Instead, find ways to stay positive, even when things look bleak.
This doesn’t mean you’re oblivious to the issues around you or have blinders on. Instead, you are looking for the positive situations.
Here are a few ways to stay positive in desperate situations:
- Find small wins
- Look for reasons to celebrate (birthdays, anniversaries, project completions)
- Read uplifting material
- Stay off of social media
- Get a devotional for leaders
When you focus on the positive, your people will see a difference. The difference will inspire them!
4. Encourage Growth And Development:
Stagnant people are rarely inspired people. If they’re not growing, they’re not seeing the next best thing.
You can help them. Encourage them to pursue furthering their education. Provide a learning library in your office. Sit down with them and discuss a growth plan.
Personal development works. You know that. So why aren’t you trying to help your team development their skills, talents, and abilities?
Be a grower of people to inspire your people!
5. Create A Culture Of Trust:
Many organizations lack inspired or motivated people because there’s a lack of trust in the organization. Whether it’s team members not trusting one another or team members not trusting leadership to do what they said they would do.
Instead of creating a culture of mistrust, lies, and deceit, work on creating a culture where trust is the norm.
This begins with being accountable. It also includes holding others accountable. You can build on it by making sure you follow through, and people aren’t punished for bringing important issues up in meetings or in private.
You Can Inspire Others
You can inspire those you lead. You have to take important, intentional steps to do this, though.
Be willing to do what it takes to inspire:
- Be accountable
- Be supportive
- Stay positive
- Encourage growth and development
- Create a culture of trust
These will be the building blocks you use to start your inspirational journey. Each block builds upon the other. Once you’ve laid a foundation, you will discover there are more building blocks to inspiration.
Keep working at it. It won’t happen all at once, but you can do it.
