How To Inspire Others When You Are Uninspired
You are engaged, tooling along, whistling while you work and then, without warning, psh, it happens. Just like that, you've lost your inspiration.
You begin to wonder. Where did you last see it? What were you doing when you lost it? When did you first notice it was missing? Was it really there one minute and gone the next or was it a long, slow leak?
You've been there before, I've been there before and we will be there again. Not only can self-motivation be a challenge in this frame of mind, so can inspiring others. That's a problem and it's a problem worth solving. I set out to solve it right here in this very space.
I carried my Modo & Modo black Moleskine journal around with me. I wrote, I erased, doodled, I cut, I pasted, I pondered and I wondered, "how do you inspire others when you are uninspired?"
I got nothing.
How about you?
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Reader Comments (9)
Two things I have found - if you're that passionate about what you do, you probably feel that you've lost your inspiration long before anyone around you notices. That's good, because the worst (for me) is feeling that you are letting other people down...and, while you might, you probably haven't (yet).
Secondly, even if your heart doesn't seem to be in it, I have found that you can keep doing what you were doing - and even if it amounts to little more than going through the motions, it can carry you over the rough patch of road until you recover what you have lost.
Finally, of course - sometimes you lose that inspiration because it is actually time to find something else to be inspired about. Be open to that possibility...just don't panic.
Regarding inspiration, I found that starting a personal (non-work) blog helped me. It provided an outlet where I could just be me and not worry about what others thought of my writing. By doing that, I began hearing from other people (mostly working moms) who told me stories that inspired me. It brought me closer to other bloggers and sometimes things they post spark my own creativity.
So, the lesson I learned was that even though you think you have lost your inspiration, you may just inspire others by being yourself. In turn, you find your spark again.
1) Schedule a fun, just-because event like a lunch offsite or a coffee break at the local Starbucks. Don't have a an agenda, don't talk about business. Just recharge as a team
2) Get your team in a room, get out the big markers or dry erase pens and have a brainstorming session. Provide a couple of topics and let the ideas flow. Forbid the phrases "That will never work" "That's too risky:" "We've never done it that way (or alternatively, "We've always done it this way"), or any other ways new ideas can be shot down. when everyone has poured out their thoughts, pick a few to jump on. Save the rest for later. Then make sure you do go back to them later.
3) Take a few days off. Often being uninspired is a symptom of being tired or burnt out. Get away from work for a few days. Spend time in nature or the big city or wherever you feel energized
4) Read the book "Purple Cow" by Seth Godin. Then create one. (You'll have to read the book to understand that suggestion)
I embrace the idea of infectious natures (...er...not swine flu) or, more specifically, the idea that positivity breeds positivity and negativity breeds negativity. When my passion, inspiration or work ethic seems to have slowed to a simmer, I usually schedule a lunch with a couple of my employees, co-workers or mentors. I ask them for their sources of inspiration. What projects are they working on? What's burning their ears right now? Sometimes just listening to others projects, challenges, ideas and inspiration re-lights your own fire.
This seems really effective when you schedule time to talk about inspiration with your own employees. Not only do you get a better idea of what drives them, but you also get a better idea of how they want to inspired. If your job is to inspire them, and you know how they like to be inspired or motivated, you can focus on operating that way (and, in a way, ignore your own problems or lack of motivation for a moment). It's a little change of scenery.
These have worked for me, but I always have trouble with this question: How do you know when to ignore or pay attention to your lack of inspiration or drive? When does it signify that maybe it's time for another job, or a change in duties? At what level does your oil have to be to change your mind from simply adding more oil OR scrapping the whole car completely and buying a new one?
Nevin, I've had some rough patches and yes, they do pass and I am finding that just being open to possibility without looking to make a change is freeing and recharging.
Trish, well, you know what they say about great minds! I am toying with the idea of a second blog, just have not made the leap in my mind yet but am getting closer and will know the time is right when I see it and I come running to you for advice!
Lindsay, tired or uninspired is definitely a great question! Coffee, markers, and a white board - what a great combination and a good idea. Thanks!
Kim, from the other perspective, lack of focus or down time of my own is draining for the introvert that I am. Thanks for joining in!
MJ, drawing from others is a wonderful idea and may very well be the topics of my next one-on-one meetings with staff. When to ignore or pay attention? Great question - do you think it has something to do with how long or how often the "off" periods are?
Thanks for all who stopped by and took the time to leave your thoughts - you guys are awesome!
I find that when I am lacking inspiration its because I am focused on finding it. I step away, clear my head and recharge.
I also permit myself to have times that are simply average. (Gasp!) To think that I always have to be the one to carry the burden is absurd. Sometimes just being able to get the work done is accomplishment enough.
Seriously though, I have been in this situation myself more than once, and I have found that the only way to find that inspiration again is to remove myself from the workplace for a while. If you don't, you're going to head towards total burnout, and the path back from burnout is much longer than 2 weeks of vacation.