Charisma. A compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. As we characterize leaders, it’s easy to think this is a key requirement as a CEO or leader to inspire teams to greatness.
We’ve seen how these leaders unlock hearts and minds with the eloquence and authenticity of their rhetoric. And as we look up to these leaders in many ways, we may ask ourselves, how can I inspire others if I don’t have that natural magnetic charm?
Here’s a little secret. The key to motivating and inspiring others rests inside a little organ (well, not literally, but figuratively) - their hearts. Our Limbic System processes our feelings before heading into rational thoughts. So, if you want to inspire feelings, behaviors, actions and followers – the key is connecting to their emotions.
Displaying charisma may be one way to inspire others; but it is not the only way. And it’s entirely useless on its own without other abilities in motivating and inspiring others. Here are five ways you can inspire and motivate others, whether or not your personality has that je ne sais quoi.
1. Create a Vision That Others Feel
Inspiring leaders dream of what’s possible and paint a picture of a future where the employees, the company, and all key stakeholders are thriving. They believe a team is capable of much more than what that team thinks is remotely realistic. They define and describe a future state so that others can SEE it, FEEL it, and PICTURE themselves in it. They transform the current black and white to vivid HD color. What is your vision? How will it tap into the emotions of your team? (Hint: they need to feel they are part of something bigger.) How can you create and communicate a vision that shows your team what’s possible with hard work, creativity, collaboration, engagement, and a little stretch? What are the ways that you can you communicate this vision effectively and often?
2. Can’t Stop Won’t Stop – Modeling Passion
Inspiring leaders have bold determination, and they relentlessly pursue their vision, even in the face of scrutiny, darkness, and obstacles. They display and exude positivity when others don’t. They prove to others that there are open pathways when everyone thinks they are obstructed. They focus on what’s possible versus dwelling on what’s not. And they take setbacks as a natural steppingstone to success. They do this for the company, and they do this for individuals, one conversation, and one meeting at a time. This isn’t to say they are brazen and reckless in their pursuit of the vision. Rather, it means they charge on towards the shared dream when others may have given up.
3. Spark Meaningful and Hard Change
Inspiring leaders don’t take the path of least resistance. They boldly and courageously face any harsh realities or uncomfortable truths (about themselves, about their company, etc.) that cause dissention, resentment, contradiction, etc. and do something about it. They are focused and find ways to steer the enormous ship in towards the correct path, even if that means some rebuilding. They aren’t afraid to give voice to the tough feelings (think #metoo) and provide space to work out the tough issues to achieve the shared dream.
4. Connect with Hearts
Inspiring leaders speak from the heart and tap into the hearts of others. They understand and care about the people they work with. They find out what makes them tick and create space for them to flourish. They make their connections one person, one team at a time. They ask and share about feelings, emotions, passions, fears, and dreams. They lead with authenticity, and treat others as whole people, not just worker bees. They take that understanding of their people and find ways to connect their people’s hearts to the shared company vision. They help people see how their work matters, and how they are not just helping their employer, they are part of something bigger than themselves.
5. Express Yourself In Your Way
Inspiring leaders express themselves and give others a large window into their thoughts and feelings. This sharing allows others to connect with them, trust them, and inspire followership. This is done through everyday communications, blogging and sharing (some leaders are best at expressing themselves in writing), conversations, emails, and so much more.
The definition of a leader is one that has followers. Therefore, it’s impossible to be an effective leader without inspiring and motivating others. How you do that can vary and doesn’t have to emulate the leadership you’ve seen in others who have different personalities than you. But there is one thing in common with effective leaders (charismatic or not) –they understand and tap into emotions. As humans we feel first, and we think second. Tap into the hearts, and you’ll see mind shifts, engagement, and actions from your team.