3 Easy Steps to Find Your Inspiration in the Workplace

Abe Brown, MBA, M.R.Ed, PCC We all need to keep our inspiration in the workplace. And one of the telltale qualities of someone who has that kind of inspiration is an individual who is a motivated and self-directed learner. Now, you may wonder what kind of effect motivation can have on someone in the workplace. And that answer is it can make a drastic difference in performance and productivity.?

In fact, a recent survey revealed that 50% of American workers are not engaged at work. In Canada, where I’m from, it’s even worse… This is a problem because when people are engaged, absenteeism goes down. Conversely, when people are engaged, their productivity skyrockets. So, how do you help people become engaged again?

You help them find their inspiration in the workplace, and there are a few simple steps to do that. I call them the ABCs of workplace inspiration.?

A - Alignment With Yourself and Your Dreams

Oftentimes, we can get so lost in the work that we forget the ‘why.’ I always tell people, “When you lose your ‘why,’ you can say ‘goodbye.’” Now, you can still “be there.” You’re physically present. However, it then becomes a case of “the lights are on, but nobody’s home.” And that’s because you lost your sense of purpose.

This happens in relationships and business partnerships, and it absolutely happens on the job. People forget the reason they signed up for the job. Now, it’s up to the employer to keep reminding us of the vision and what we’re trying to accomplish. But it doesn’t fall squarely on the employer—it’s also on you, me, and everyone else on the level of the workplace.?

B - Basics, Get Back to the Basics

If you’re like me, you probably tend to overcomplicate things. It’s amazing how quickly we do this. Sophistication (in my opinion) is the art of keeping things simple. But we have this ability to make even the most simple things extremely complicated. So rather than being fully present in the moment I’m in, I’m trying to “master plan” the next 10 years of moments that may or may not come. And this is done at the expense of the moment I’m residing in right now.?

That’s an example of overcomplicating things. I’m not saying we shouldn’t plan or be strategic; I’m saying we shouldn’t overcomplicate things unnecessarily. Because you’re trying to manage a future that—quite frankly—none of us have a lot of control over. Yes, you shape your future, but you don’t control it. Those are 2 different things.?

So, can I just encourage you to own the moment rather than mulling over the past or trying to become too fixated on the future??

C - Connection, Surrounding Yourself With the Right People

Personal development speaker and businessman Jim Rohn famously said, “We have the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.” And for some of us, that’s a problem. If you find yourself spending the majority of your time with people who are not very positive, it might be a good idea to change and upgrade your social circle.?

I hope that’s not you, but if it is, I encourage you to find a new group of people to call your tribe. You deserve it. You don’t want to end up being pulled down to the lowest common denominator. You want to be around people who lift you higher. When we struggle together, we strive together, and then we thrive together.?

The problem is that we often surround ourselves with the people who make us feel comfortable instead of the people who will support our growth by challenging us. I don’t want to hang around people who will give me another back rub. I’ll go to my massage therapist if I need a back rub. My closest friends are meant to pull me higher. They’re there to hold me accountable, challenge me, and inspire me.?

So, I have a question for you: Are you leveraging the most you can out of the relationships in your life? Or are you just looking for a bunch of “yes-men” and back rubbers who will make you feel comfortable but won’t inspire your growth?

I’ll tell you what: This matters in the workplace. The workplace is a very social environment, even if you’re working remotely. So, on the job, are you gravitating to people who are simply stroking your ego, or are you moving toward people who are helping you get to that next level?

Next Step: Book a Free Discovery Session

The workplace is dynamic, with differing attitudes, opinions, and ideas. As a result, it’s important to maintain inspiration to ensure exceptional work gets done, as well as to ensure that your team is supported. And that’s where we at Flourishing Workplace can help. At Flourishing Workplace, we believe in a workplace where everyone belongs, everyone contributes, and everyone thrives.?

If you’re ready to see this kind of culture in your workplace, I’d like to invite you to book a free discovery session where we’ll provide you with a detailed roadmap to creating a thriving workplace environment. We look forward to hearing from you!?

About the Author

Abe Brown, MBA, CMCT, CPHSA is the Coach’s Coach, and is an Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, International Best-Selling Author, and High-Performance Leadership Coach. He is the founder of?Certified Flourishing Coaching??and?Flourishing Workplace. Abe is also the author of the Certified Flourishing Coaching? Programs.