Lead through inspiration

In the same way that mean people suck the happiness out of you, good people also have the ability to fill others with positivity.  To be able to inspire others is an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience. At times, it can even feel as though you are unearthing a hidden version of yourself that you didn’t even know existed until you see your impact on someone else. There are many different ways in which we can uplift others, some directly and some indirectly.  By identifying those things that allow us to put our best foot forward we overshadow anything that could hold us back from inspiring others. Here are a few things to help us focus on being all we can be so that our leadership will uplift others.

Be prepared to help where you can

There are plenty of people who will want your help and guidance, but being everything to all people is a recipe for disaster.  Have a plan so that when someone asks you for help, you have a way of deciding who you are best prepared to assist and who may be a good option for someone else to help them.  Like most people you’re going to want to provide the highest level of support you can when you decide to help so make sure you can fulfil your commitment.  To many promises leads to everyone getting to little follow through.  A great place to start this qualification process is if they didn’t ask for help, why again are you helping? 

As with most things in life, your support can only really help uplift someone if they are ready to allow it to.  This does not mean do not offer unsolicited help.  We all know that sometimes that is exactly what someone may need however, as a rule of thumb, offer don’t go looking to help where people didn’t ask or don’t want it.

Be a good listener

There are many people who are only interested in talking, especially in sales.  Being ready to help others succeed and win so often starts with you being willing to really listen to others.  Try to actively hear what they need and put their concerns and opinions regarding their situation into proper perspective in your own mind before you offer solutions.  Until you understand where they’re really struggling it’s tough to really understand how to help.  Really deep listening, active listening, not only allows you to better absorb their perspective, it also allows them to feel as though they are being heard. Very often that is the first step to them moving forward and being inspired.  Listening shows that you care about the things that are important to them. It is a gesture of true nurturing.  As we all know, by actively listening to others, you make yourself a better person as well.

Provide genuine compliments

Compliments are a great way to inspire others because they can often enhance a person’s self-esteem. It is important to note that genuine compliments are different than flattery. Flattery is most often insincere praise that someone is trying to manipulate others with. Genuine compliments are those that are sincere and meant to lift the person’s spirits.  It is something that will stay with the person long after the conversation is over.  People appreciate genuine compliments. That is the primary reason, they’re one of the most effective ways to lift someone’s spirits. There is something very special about being recognized for being who you are by someone else. Especially someone who has nothing to gain by sharing such comments.  Everyone likes to be noticed for what sets them apart from everyone else.  When people’s gifts are recognized those gifts are turbo charged and that person is  more likely to used those gifts more going forward. While complements don’t solve all of life’s self-esteem problems, it does put others in a much better place to deal with drains on their esteem when they happen.  Think of compliments as deposits into another’s self esteem bank account.  The key is to make them as rich as possible and the best part is that in real life it does not cost you anything but time and your sincerity!

Be patient

There will be times when you want to help someone out but you don’t know the best way to do so. Sometimes you will have the knowledge and experience to do something, but it just won’t be the right time. In these instances, it is best to be patient. You don’t have to rush into helping others. Sometimes you can do more damage than good if you try to help when the timing isn’t right.  At times, you may be expected to help others when you aren’t ready. This is equally important to say no. Don’t let your own insecurities plunge you into trying to help just because you see an opening. Be patient and wait for the right time to help. If you actively try to make yourself a available for others, then when the time is right you will be satisfied in the knowledge that you are helping others at a time when you both are ready to engage. 

Embrace being wrong

It is inevitable that, at some point, you will make a mistake when helping others. You will say the wrong thing and upset someone, or you will do something that doesn’t have the desired result. You have to accept that you will make mistakes. You have to embrace them because you can’t change the reality that sometimes mistakes happen and sometimes you’re just wrong.  You have to learn from them and move forward. If you are constantly beating yourself up over mistakes and trying to hide them from others, you won’t be able to inspire anyone because you will not be inspired.  People will see that you don’t have any confidence in yourself if they see that you don’t have the ability to learn from your mistakes. By actively trying to learn and grow from your mistakes and being wrong when it happens you show others that the key to winning is not a perfect game.  It’s being consistent in your efforts.  You will be able to inspire others with your willingness to be open and honest about your shortcomings and you will learn so much more. 

Inspiring others is a very rewarding experience. It allows you to show love and support to people who may be going through difficult times in their lives. If you want to make yourself a better person for others, then it is important that you actively try to work on yourself. It is not enough to say that you want to be a better person and help others. You need to actively try to change the things that are holding you back from growing first.  That act in and of itself will inspire others. When you are actively trying to make yourself a better person for others, it allows you to feel more fulfilled, more positive, and more ready to help which makes it easier to share that with others. It is difficult to inspire others if you don’t believe in yourself first.