Inspiring others is what you should always be doing. People want to be around others who can drive them to do better and be better. When we see someone else achieve great things, it often ignites a fire within us to do something great as well. Inspiration is what gives us the power to change our lives for the better. But not everyone inspires others the right way for a positive outcome they desire.
What makes a person inspiring to others?
A person who inspires others usually has a positive attitude and maintains high energy even when things are not going well. More importantly, the person also encourages and inspires other people in accomplishing their goals.
How do you inspire others?
You inspire others by being a role model with your words, actions, and uplifting spirit. You elevate the moods of those around you and have them believe that they can accomplish more than they thought possible.
But there is no one-size-fits-all way of inspiring others. This is because each person is an individual and has different things that motivate them.
Some people might be inspired by your passion and dedication to your work. Others might be inspired by your ability to overcome failure and adversity.
Some people want to be pushed harder while others may want a more subtle approach. The key is to find first what inspires each person and then present it or act in the way that resonates with them.
Here are 20 examples of inspiring others:
1. Show your gratitude
If you want to inspire others, make them feel that you appreciate them. It’s crucial to show gratitude for the efforts and contributions of those around you.
People will be more inclined to help if they know their work is appreciated. Showing gratitude is also a great way to build relationships and create a positive work environment.
2. Be authentic
Authenticity is probably one of the most important things you can bring to work. People respect someone’s authenticity. Don’t try to be someone you are not. People can see through fake behavior and will only make them lose respect for you.
Be genuine, be yourself, and let your personality shine through. People want to be around individuals who are authentic and down to earth.
If you can be yourself, they will naturally connect to you. They will respect you for being honest, and this is a great way to create trust and build relationships. Always be yourself, and remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Everyone is good at something.
Read also: 16 Examples of a Good Mentor
3. Be a role model
To inspire others, you have to be somebody worth following. Somebody that other people would look up to and want to emulate.
You don’t have to be perfect, but you should strive to behave in a way you want others to emulate. But your actions must match your words and values.
People want to follow and learn from someone who is already succeeding. They don’t want to follow someone full of negativity or self-doubt because it makes them feel like they can’t succeed either.
Other people will want to emulate you or work with you if they see that you are a good person that they can trust.
4. Be a valuable resource
Good examples of inspiring others include being a knowledgeable person who other people can count on for information, support, or guidance. You don’t have to be the boss to be a valuable resource.
If you are a resourceful and helpful individual, others will come to you for help and advice. This not only makes you a valuable team member, but it also inspires others to be more resourceful as well.
People want to work with individuals they can learn from or share the knowledge. If you are a knowledgeable individual who can help teach others, you will be the go-to person and inspire others on your team.
5. Share responsibility
Sharing responsibility means distributing tasks equally to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute their skills and ideas.
Sharing responsibility also helps build trust within the team because you act inclusively rather than dictating who does what.
6. Be positive
Be optimistic, enthusiastic, and solution-focused. Someone positive will see the benefit in any situation.
So, even if you feel like giving up on something, try thinking positively first — you may find that there is another way of looking at it.
Positivity is contagious, and it can help to brighten up someone’s day. When you are positive, it shows, and this can motivate others.
7. Encourage others
Encouragement is a powerful tool for inspiring others. When you encourage someone, you give them the belief that they can do something and are capable of succeeding. It can be a real boost to their confidence and help them achieve.
We all go through good and bad days. Sometimes we need someone to tell us that we are doing a good job. We need people to support us when facing challenging situations.
Be that person who rouses people instead of bringing them down. You will motivate people to do their best while developing a sense of community and workplace loyalty.
Read more: 11 Good Examples of Showing Initiative at Work
8. Be compassionate
Compassion is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. We sometimes fail to remember that everyone makes mistakes, but being compassionate means understanding that no one person is perfect.
Your actions, positive or negative, will impact other people’s lives. If you show a genuine interest in and concern for the people around you, they will feel a sense of security.
And they will be more likely to share their own stories or struggles with you so that together you can identify ways to improve the situation and work collaboratively to find a solution.
9. Be humble
No one likes to associate with someone who boasts about their accomplishments, so stop it. If your project was a success, don’t say it’s because of your great ideas. Give credit to everyone involved. With the right mindset, you will have no problem being humble.
Your inflated ego is not very helpful when motivating others. People will be far more impressed by your humility than your ego, and your team will appreciate you for it.
10. Have a thirst for knowledge
Having a thirst for knowledge inspires others at work. People get drawn to those who are passionate and committed to learning.
Additionally, being known as someone who is always looking to improve your skills and knowledge can raise your stature within the team. It also creates an attractive aura of intelligence and professionalism around you.
Don’t forget to practice what you’ve learned. It’s not enough to learn many things you cannot show others how they work.
You also need to apply that knowledge practically and make meaningful contributions to your team. So, having a thirst for knowledge does inspire others at work — and in all areas of life.
11. Don’t be selfish
There is nothing less inspiring than someone who only thinks about themselves or wants their way all the time. Being unselfish is like investing in goodwill – the more you put in, the more you will get back.
You never know when you might need your team to come through for you. When you do something you are proud of, let people know about it!
Sharing your successes with others will make them feel inspired and motivated to do their best too. It also shows that you are a team player who helps other people.
12. Have a sense of humor
We all need a good laugh once in a while, especially when times are tough. To light, a situation can help diffuse tension and make people more receptive to your message. Just be careful not to cross the line into being mean-spirited or insensitive.
Read also: 13 Examples of Good Work Ethic
13. Take responsibility for your behavior
If you make a mistake, take responsibility and learn from it. Don’t blame others for where you went wrong because this will only alienate the people around you. You should do this even if no one has caught or even noticed your mistake.
14. Practice what you preach
Do you want to inspire others? You have to be an inspiration yourself! Do the work that you ask your employees and colleagues to do.
If you want other people to take action, you need to show them how to do it first. After all, we learn best by imitation—that means we should copy what other people do if we want them to follow our lead.
15. Compliment others sincerely
Compliments are a great way to make someone feel good and appreciated. But, it’s important to give compliments sincerely, from the heart. Phony compliments or insincere flattery can have the opposite effect and make the person uncomfortable.
No one likes to feel like they are being dipped or lied to, so compliment people genuinely and let them know how much you appreciate their talents and contributions.
16. Display high standards in your work
If you are always pushing yourself to do better, you can inspire others. However, if you’re always nitpicking and never happy with anything less than perfect, then having high standards can be a demotivating force.
Set high standards but also be realistic about what’s achievable. Don’t expect perfection all the time — it is unrealistic and will only lead to frustration.
But do aim for constant improvement and strive for excellence. That way, you’ll be setting an example for others to follow while still being reasonable and fair.
Striving for excellence is always a good thing, but it’s important to find the right balance between being demanding and destructive.
17. Listen actively
Listening is crucial in any situation, but it’s more important when you want to inspire someone. Active listening is a technique where you not only hear what someone says but try to understand.
Try to resist the urge to think about what you want to say next and listen attentively. When others see that you are trying to understand them, they are more likely to be open with you.
18. Be mindful of the language that you use
The words that come out of your mouth have power. So, choose your words carefully when trying to encourage someone.
If you talk down to people, don’t be surprised if they refuse to cooperate with you. Try to use positive language and build people up rather than tearing them down.
19. Display a passion
You display passion in your work by talking about it with excitement and enthusiasm to other people. When you are genuinely passionate about your work, it will show in the way you talk about it and the way you do it.
People enjoy working with others who display passion because it is contagious. They can see how you talk about your work and make them want to be around you more. They also want to work with you and be a part of what you are doing.
20. Be a team player
Some teams are inspired by a good team player to give their best performance. Other team members become motivated to do better and work harder because they see someone on the team who is working hard and being productive.
You can be inspirational and motivating to others on the team. You can help foster a feeling of camaraderie and teamwork, which can, in turn, lead to improved performance. So, you can ultimately inspire the whole team to improve and perform better.
Read also: 21 Good Examples of Accountability
Conclusion
Inspiration is contagious. It starts with you, showing that the path you are taking is valuable and meaningful.
People will want to follow your example and be a part of something great. So, always behave in the way that you are proud of and make others want to copy.