As a first-time manager, Jahnvi has a pivotal role in maintaining her team’s morale. She wants them to feel they are appreciated, seen and heard. She is leaving no stone unturned on her way to understanding the best possible ways to be an effective manager for her team. She has gone to lengths and breaths to comprehend different dimensions of her journey to be the most approachable person for her team members. One thing she found on her journey that never changes is human nature – often unpredictable, and she finds it challenging and stirring to inspire her team individually.
By far, she has unveiled the requisites of becoming a first-time manager, her values, locus of control, setting goals and achieving them, her learnings from The Strangest Secret, how to handle missed goals, an overview of feedback, the gateway to discovering the blindspot, frameworks of feedback, the concepts of feedforward, the overview of the interpersonal skills, the techniques to enhance interpersonal skills, better team management using people reading guide, the techniques to effectively manage a team, an overview of time management, the time management matrix, and the techniques to manage time effectively, the art of delegation, ways to consider capabilities of her team, the process to delegate effectively, unconscious bias, how to be an unbiased leader, and strategies to eliminate biases at work.
Jahnvi remembers when she was a part of the team, she used to feel energized and inspired to keep going every single day. She knew the adrenaline rush of feeling supercharged with enthusiasm to do better with every passing day. Now that she recalls her energy, she wants to imbibe the same energy in her people that makes them self-propelling. Inspiration is the key factor that drives a successful team and her manager made sure that they were inspired enough to make a difference in their productivity.
She thought her immediate supervisor would be the right person to give her the direction. She discussed her concern with her supervisor and asked if he could share the gems of inspiration with her. He quoted Vala Afsar, Chief Digital Evangelist at Salesforce;
“We are not a team because we work together. We are a team because we respect, trust, and care for each other.”
He continued by saying, “A leader who demonstrates world-class leadership behaviors is found leading the most profitable companies on the planet.” They are called servant leaders, authentic leaders, conscious leaders, or transformational leaders. One thing is certain: their leadership frees up discretionary effort across a company.
The secret of their leadership style comes down to choosing “people over profit.” When a leader functions with such a mindset, the companies actually make more profit.
Inspired employees are more than twice as productive as satisfied employees, according to Bain’s study.
Leaders and their teams don’t merely respond to what’s going on in their organization. They collaborate to bring out the best in each other. And that continual partnership helps their organization’s mission and business success.
Teams who look up to their leader are:
- 2x more likely to stay in the organization
- 2.3x more likely to have clarity about their company’s strategy
- 2.3x more likely to be more engaged
Jahnvi’s supervisor’s words worked like food for thought and she started wondering about a scenario where she is in charge of shining the spotlight on her people and she felt the urge to learn everything about inspiring others.
What Does It Mean To Inspire Others?
There are numerous qualities that can inspire and elevate those around you. You can learn to inspire leaders and others through your courage, drive, creativity, or life passion. People look up to their leaders in the workplace for inspiration and models of how to address their own issues.
- Some of the numerous characteristics of an inspirational person include:
- Believes in oneself and is self-assured
- Defends their personal ideals
- Doesn’t back down from a challenge
- Speaks up on their behalf
- Compassionately handles challenging situations
- Looks for the reasons
- Accepts responsibility and admits fault
- Refuses to accept unfair treatment
- Clearly communicates and backs up words with actions
- Intends to make a difference
Inspiring characteristics are typically associated with themes of self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-discipline. However, anyone who embodies the qualities that a person wishes to emulate can inspire them.
People who inspire others are more likely to be effective leaders. They can be used to demonstrate how to overcome obstacles through creativity, how to cope with stress, and how to connect with your strengths.
COVID-19 has brought multiple trying situations to both on-site and remote personnel, including an increased risk of burnout. According to a survey, 89% of employees stated the pandemic was making their work life a challenge.
In order to boost morale and sail the organizational ship, inspiring leaders are essential in the workplace. Leaders may provide structure and stimulation to their teams through the power of inspiration and the correct leadership abilities, resilience, and effectively leading them to success even in difficult times.
Why Do Leaders Have To Inspire Their People?
Leaders must look after their people to achieve their best work by inspiring them. Leaders may foster a culture of success and productivity by supporting their team members. With so much going on in the world, it might be difficult to find motivation. However, encouraging others, like any other ability, requires practice and perseverance. Here are four reasons why leaders should certainly motivate their teams:
- Leaders that inspire their teams have a high level of morale in the workplace. Employees who are inspired or driven will eventually look for greater possibilities within the organization. Furthermore, it results in enhanced productivity and organizational stability, which is what you want when trying to lead a successful team.
- Employees that are inspired work harder because they believe in themselves and see that there is something worthwhile to fight for. They are also innovative since they use the stumbling stones as opportunities.
- Challenges can be easily overcome by inspired teams. Employees are more inclined to be creative and work hard to solve obstacles when they work in an inspirational atmosphere. Furthermore, when there is a sense of teamwork, everyone pushes together and implements their greatest ideas. Motivate the team to collaborate and achieve better achievements. In contrast when individuals operate individually without the help of a team, even if the results are not immediately visible.
- When everyone pulls in the same direction, inspired teams perform best. It’s astonishing what can be accomplished when we have a group of people pushing each other to be better.
- A set of people that you inspire become your people. As a leader, you can have a big impact on the direction it goes and utilize your influence to achieve goals. In short, inspire a team to inspire others. As a manager, becoming a source of inspiration is a step toward greater leadership effectiveness.
When Jahnvi went through these points, she affirmed to lead an inspired team and make it a successful workplace for everyone. She is determined to hit the inspire button on all her team members and wishes to lead a team that sets a benchmark for others in the line of leadership. Now that she got acquainted with an inspired team, she wants to explore the practices that could help her in her journey.
Best Practices To Inspire Others
Jahnvi is getting a hint of clarity and she has a change in her perspective that ‘true inspiration is not monetary: It is tied to the values of each individual as well as the culture of her company. In reality, it has nothing to do with inspiration: It’s more about inspiring the team, and it involves leadership mixed with practical strategies. Once she comprehends these practices, she will be able to access a world of unlimited inspiration to share with others.
Add value to your people
Every one of us requires inspiration on a regular basis. One of the most important things we can do in life is add value to everyone we meet. Habits are created via repetition, thus, focusing on this is essential for success in life.
In the 1990s, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon to make it easier to buy books online. He provided value to people’s lives by making them more convenient. He is now the richest man in the world, with a net worth of $177 billion.
Elon Musk established Paypal in order to simplify the payment system. He went on to start Tesla, an electric vehicle manufacturer. Musk aspired to revolutionize and improve humanity.
The common thread here is that these people began by providing something with the least intention of getting anything in return. They gave and gave and gave without expecting anything in return. Their efforts accumulated and paid off over time, and people became aware of the value they brought to the community.
They were rewarded for their efforts at the conclusion of the day. It would have been a trying and difficult road for them to begin with, just like it is for you and me. Their persistence and vision, together with their unwavering pursuit, made all the difference.
Share a new perspective while solving a problem
Ask questions and honestly solicit input while sharing a new perspective. When team members believe that their ideas and thoughts are being seriously taken into account, they are more willing to share them.
When team members believe their voices are being heard, they are more likely to be happy about their job and accept management decisions because they can make sense of what is going on. Furthermore, they stand by the decisions and work tirelessly to ensure their success.
When leaders ask questions, observe and listen, they value the team’s feedback and desire for transparency.
Empower your people
Team management is challenging. It’s considerably more challenging when we care. It’s even more challenging when our team members don’t do things exactly the same way we do. However, it is the diversity of ideas that leads to growth, creativity, and innovation.
Sometimes marching instructions are all that is required. However, whenever feasible, give them the liberty and space they need to step up and lead. Great leaders allow their employees to experiment, make errors, learn, and grow in order for them to become better performers.
Celebrate the various problem-solving approaches that lead to great outcomes, and provide an opportunity for everyone on your team to learn from one another. The more people feel recognized and respected for their ideas and ways of working, the better their job will be, and the longer they will want to stay on your team.
Give constructive feedback
Constructive feedback informs team members about their performance, behavior, and impact on others, particularly in terms of leadership abilities. It is intended to help team members understand how other team members see them, discover areas for improvement, and gain insight into the influence of their actions on the team and its members.
- Leaders may foster trust, inspiration, and a sense of collaboration among their team members by providing positive feedback.
- It assists leaders in understanding their team members’ strengths and limitations and identifying areas where they may develop to be more productive.
- It can assist leaders in identifying patterns in their behavior or decision-making that may be impeding their progress and making necessary changes.
- It assists leaders in identifying opportunities for personal and professional development and in setting improvement objectives.
Care for your people
“People don’t care how much you know – until they know how much you care.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
A caring leader demonstrates concern for others by creating an atmosphere in which everyone feels supported, respected, valued, and heard. True leaders, no matter how hectic their schedules are, make time to care for others. But, more importantly, they treat people as they would like to be treated!
Caring is one of the most important factors in successful leadership. Combining care with leadership is unusual for many people. 68% of CEOs are afraid of losing respect if they show empathy at work. Being a nice leader does not imply neglecting your company’s leadership obligations.
Kind leaders may identify their people’s needs and allow them to express themselves freely. Leaders who care will encourage you to pursue your goals and improve your performance. This caring mentality is subsequently transmitted across the organization. Leaders today regard vulnerability as a source of strength.
Lead from the front
Leaders understand the significance of leading from the front. They lead not via words, but through their deeds and examples. This demonstrates to other team members that leadership is a way of life that should be taken seriously. Leading from the front entails leading by example, with integrity, accountability, inventiveness, and loyalty to yourself.
It’s also about knowing your field and how to help members when they need it most, while also pushing them to take risks and grow as professionals. Leading from the front is how good leadership distinguishes itself.
Taking the initiative in a crisis can increase morale and enable speedy decision-making. Being visible at the front of the team conveys confidence and demonstrates to team members that their leader is engaged and capable. Leading from the front also promotes growth and provides guidance on how to succeed.
These practices made Jahnvi contemplate that she needs to listen to her team and show confidence while being understanding and empathetic with them. It is of utmost importance for her to show her team that she has their best interests in mind and is buckled up to lead them through the ebbs and flows of time. She wants to give them space to learn, grow and make mistakes where she can incentivize failure to make them understand that things can go south sometimes and that is okay. The more important thing is to figure out that it doesn’t happen again.
Amidst her research, she was intrigued by a term, ‘servant leader,’ and she wants to explore the term in the context of inspiring others. In the next article, she will immerse in the details of servant leadership.
https://twitter.com/ValaAfshar
https://www.glintinc.com/blog/new-data-reveals-the-world-changing-power-of-inspiring-managers/
https://www.risely.me/4-proven-techniques-of-taking-multiple-perspectives-as-managers/
https://hbr.org/2022/09/how-to-stop-micromanaging-and-start-empowering
https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-to-be-an-inspiring-leader
https://www.ivy.partners/why-caring-leadership-is-the-right-way-to-lead/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/krishna-athal/the-art-of-leading-from-the-front/
https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*9uCiXZIZlIrb8Zyp
Written By: Jimmy Jain
Edited By: Afreen Fatima
Society of Design Thinking Professionals
