I am often asked if there is a “secret” to inspiration. How do leaders inspire people to fully commit to what their company stands for and become passionate ambassadors of the brand?
The answer is not an appeal to the intellect. It is found in the hearts and souls of people.
Commitment is a function of belief. Two characteristics most stand out with employees who represent their company’s brand at the highest levels:
A. They have total belief in their products or service.
B. They have total belief in their company.
So where does this belief come from? Employees believe in their company when they feel—indisputably--that their company believes in them. How do they know that their company believes in them?
Through a corporate culture that encourages, empowers, rewards and recognizes the contribution of each and every individual. Simple isn’t it? Yes, but not easy!
For this to happen, leaders have to commit to creating such a culture. That requires leaders begin with understanding their purpose as a leader: to engage others in committing their energies and expertise to achieve the shared mission and goals of the organization.
People want to do good work and many want to do great work. People love to be on a team and love to be on a winning team. People place a high value on contributing value and an equivalent value on being recognized for that contribution. People want to look forward to coming to work and leaders feel the same way.
There is no secret to inspiration. It is about the engagement of the human spirit--the ability to capture the aspirations of the individual and provide a vehicle and environment for the fulfillment of those aspirations.
Peter Rena eloquently summed it up with these thoughts:
“Corporations are social organizations, the theater in which people realize, or fail to realize, purposeful and productive lives.”