We’ve talked about inspiration before. Whether it’s my young niece setting up a business from scratch in less than 3 weeks, or the fact spring is the most inspiring season for business leaders, or the business colleague developing a fantastic and helpful business tool. For me I am most inspired by people ‘doing stuff’. I’m touched by those that have gone on a journey and overcome something big. Don’t get me wrong that’s great but it doesn’t inspire me personally. I’m inspired by action!
The standard definition of inspiration goes like this…
“the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.” Or “a sudden brilliant or timely idea.”
But in this Harvard Business Review article, we hear how psychologists Thrash and Elliot, describe inspiration thus
“involves both being inspired by something and acting on that inspiration.”
The subject fascinates me, so I decided to do a bit of reading around. Did you know studies show inspiration facilitates progress toward goals? Inspiration also increases well-being? (This could be very helpful at this time in our history.)
“inspiration is best thought of as a surprising interaction between your current knowledge and the information you receive from the world.”
How do we get more inspired? Well, we first must be open to new experiences. How curious are you? How often do you change it up? Go to a different supermarket? Listen to a different radio station? Take a different route home? Read an author you’ve never read before? Come on, let’s try something new, be open to new experiences.
We then need the right environment and exposure to inspiring people (managers, role models, and heroes).
One of my hero’s Richard Branson identifies the ability to inspire as the single most important leadership skill in this article
Another Hero Simon Sinek tells us how great leaders inspire action in this TED talk.
Check out my list of Inspiring Vlogs for more inspiring content.
Could this be your most important role…? To inspire other people. It is a wonderful feeling to connect with someone on such a level that they are inspired by you.
What can you do this week to inspire those around you?
