In this time of change, your ability to create inspiration in yourself and others is essential — both to attract people to your project and inspire them to contribute more.
There is no single ‘silver bullet’ to achieving this. But every inspiring vision is built from the same seven building blocks. And the third of these blocks is to ask people to make a choice: are they with you — or are they not?
At first sight it might seem to make sense to push everyone to say, “Yes.”
But the more you force people into supporting you now, the more you will have to convince them, again and again, every time a new issue arises. This will sap your energy and time. And in this time of change there will be many issues to deal with…
Better, instead, to share your vision with people in a way that inspires them to make it their own. Then ask them to make a choice: are they with you or are they not?
If they decide to go with you then you know that you can count on their committed support, no matter what happens: because now they have a priority which aligns with yours. Which means that they will feel inspired to solve any issues that arise, without needing input from you.
And if they choose “No” then you have saved yourself from many future distractions.
The CEOs of Apple and Unilever both know this. In recent years both have effectively told their shareholders:
“This is where we are going. If you don’t like it, sell your stock.”
They know that investors who are not committed to travelling the same path with them will be a drain on their time, energy, and resources. And in this time of global change, that is time, energy, and resources they cannot afford to waste.
The same applies to employees, customers, managers, and anyone else whose support you need: are they on the bus or are they off the bus? Will they lead, follow, or get out of the way?
The more you inspire people to realise that they are longing to travel alongside you through the uncertainties of this churning world, the more you will build a team that doesn’t question and complain every step of the way but instead works to find the opportunities that every problem represents.
This is another step to making you, and them, antifragile.
In your work life, and in your personal life, are you and the people around you on the bus or off the bus? Or are you or are they unsure? What results does this create?
Adapted from Inner Leadership: a framework and tools for building inspiration in times of change.
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Photo By Quinn Dombrowski via StockPholio.net