Align and Engage Your Team with the GREAT Inspiration Method

This is part 4 of a four-part series of articles addressing the most common topics in leadership development. Ubiquity has developed a simple-to-learn, easy-to-retain and effective-to-use system to address these questions. In Part 1, we covered the GROW Coaching Method. In Part 2, we explored the GUIDE Feedback Method. In Part 3, we dove into the GAIN Influence Method. Finally, here in Part 4, we examine the GREAT Inspiration Method for maximizing motivation and engagement.

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Over the last few weeks, we’ve covered effective frameworks for leaders who want to become even better at coaching, feedback and influence. We presented three methods that fit together to form a system to help leaders GUIDE, GROW and GAIN engagement to drive organizational performance.?

There remains one key piece of the bigger puzzle that we have intentionally saved for last. That missing piece is the goal that the other models are aiming at, and the magnet that pulls them forward. We are referring to “GREAT Inspiration”, the energy that engages our teams to work together and strive for achievement.

I remember watching the Apple Keynote in 2007 when Steve Jobs announced a revolutionary new product called the “iPhone”. A few months later I was in Apple’s head office in Cupertino, training to lead their business sales team in eastern Canada. I felt the powerful energy of inspiration with each new product launch, and I was inspired by the rallying cry of “5 down, 95 to go”, referencing the fact that we had just 5% of the computer market share, but aspired to hit 100%. We were all motivated to prove the nay-sayers wrong, and willing to do what it took to get us there.?

Years later, after launching my coaching firm, I started “Inspiring Leaders”, a podcast interviewing great leaders about their perspectives on Inspiring Leadership. I learned more about inspiration from my time at Apple and conducting those podcast interviews than any course at Harvard or Oxford could have ever hoped to teach.?

Some of the key things that I learned is that motivation comes from within, so you have to inspire them to spark their motivation. And to inspire others, you need to know where you are going, why that is worthwhile, and have a good idea of how to get there. I learned that inspiration pulls people like a magnet and it creates momentum toward a beneficial outcome.

These lessons lead to the creation of the GREAT Inspiration Method, a unique conceptual model showing the pieces of the puzzle that create the energy needed to engage the passions and participation of others:

G = Goal-Oriented

Inspiring goals can be divided into two types: On the highest level are Aspirations. Imagine being 99 years old, thinking back over your life. What memory would make you smile? It won't be the stuff you acquired. But it might be the way you conducted yourself in your life, what you stood for and what ideal guided the reputation that you built. That is your highest level Aspiration or purpose. If you don’t know what this is yet, don’t worry. But as Viktor Frankl says, don't settle for a life without purpose.?

?'What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him." Viktor Frankl

The second level of Goal Orientation is where your Achievements exist. These are typically measurable goals that have a definitive finish line: you either accomplish them or you don’t. To be inspirational, ideally, they align with and advance your higher-level Aspiration. If they don't align, you may end up achieving things that feel hollow and leave you with a sense that something is missing in your life.?

Inspiring goals reimagine the status quo and create a vision that exceeds conventional wisdom. Aligning it with your highest Aspiration is important because you will believe in it and express it in powerful terms. With this alignment, you will be more likely to leverage your experience and learn from your mistakes. You will invite others to join you on your journey because it will require the combined efforts of many people with a diversity of skills and perspectives.?

There are three different kinds of Achievement Goals that tend to be most inspiring:

a) Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) that are attainable, but it will take everyone’s maximum effort to achieve. The possibility of putting a ding in the universe will get most people to jump through hoops of fire and leap over tall buildings.?

b) Underdog Goals where you come from behind to advance unexpectedly, or you aim to prove the naysayers wrong, like Apple’s “5 Down, 95 To Go” mantra. Believing in one’s potential can light a strong fire inside people.?

c) Nobel / Good Cause Goals, like developing a vaccine for a pandemic, a cure for cancer, or supporting refugees from Ukraine. You and your team work to benefit others. Altruism is powerful.?

R = Rewarding

To be inspired, people need to know that it is in their best interest to invest their time, attention and efforts. If the Goal is the magnet that pulls people along, their Rewards will reinforce their efforts. You will need to set the right intentions for yourself, and those you want to inspire. Why does your goal matter? Who will benefit from your Achievements? What impact will we create??

Explore and encourage the potential of your team and contributors and praise their efforts to progress.?There will be times when you need to use the GROW Coaching Method to expand their abilities, the GAIN Influence Method to focus them, and the GUIDE Feedback Method to help them course-correct. Just remember to acknowledge their efforts, and emphasize the greater good that you are all working toward.?

E = Executable

Executable means that your goal is doable. These are the tactical plans and operational actions that make your goals attainable. These Actions will result in Achievements that advance your Aspirations.?

Any Venture Capitalist will tell you that big ideas are a dime a dozen - everyone seems to have a lofty goal but few can operationalize them. If you are a visionary thinker, you need an efficient plan to make it happen. To revolutionize personal computing, Steve Jobs needed Steve Wozniak to figure out how the circuits should be connected to the processor. To be inspiring, your vision needs to be executable.?

Prioritize what initiatives matter most to advancing your goal in an uncluttered way. What options are there to advancing your goal? Connect the dots in ambiguous situations so energy can be focused on efficient and effective steps, checkpoints and measurable outcomes. Anticipate and be prepared, rather than being reactive and impulsive. And communicate clearly and often.?

A = Autonomy

Those who are inspired and choose to join this journey want to feel like they matter. Acknowledge them, spot their potential and encourage them to strive as you reinforce your belief in their abilities. Push people out of their comfort zones by balancing care and candour. ?

Create a psychologically safe environment where people can stretch and grow their perspectives and skills. Use questions to facilitate their critical thinking to navigate challenges, explore options, and feel empowered while aligning with your shared objectives. Help them feel valued by sharing information as openly as possible, and asking for their perspectives, suggestions and feedback.

T = Trustworthy

The Three Poisons (Greed, Fame, Power) make for shallow, near-sighted goals that will inspire the wrong kinds of motivation. They simply won't be aligned with an inspiring high-level Aspiration or Purpose. Don’t be like Enron or convicted felon Martin Shkreli. Earn trust and respect through dignity.?

Aim to embody integrity. Be honest, reliable, committed, humble and courageous. When you are with people, be present and listen. Accept full responsibility for everything that is within your control or influence and encourage others to accept ownership, accountability and responsibility as well. When others trust you and what you are aiming to achieve, they will give you their permission to lead them.?

The Big Picture

Over the last few weeks, we have explored four models that address the four most common questions in leadership development, and we have offered four models that organizational leaders can lean on to manage and lead more effectively. These models include methods for Feedback, Coaching, Influence and Inspiration.?

It doesn’t take an advanced degree in rocket science to figure out how these four methods fit together and build upon each other to create higher performance in any organization. The order that these models are used will vary in most organizations, but the utility of each model will be as follows:

GREAT Inspiration: This is the magnet used to entice and engage others, spark motivation and create sustainable momentum.

GAIN Influence: A useful framework for helping others see the mutually beneficial outcomes that can be realized by shifting their behaviours, perspectives or beliefs.

GROW Coaching: A time-tested best practice for skill and competency development that helps people become better able to advance the organization’s goals.

GUIDE Feedback: The most effective approach to course-correct or acknowledge people’s behaviours, actions or perspectives.

Together, we call these four methods “4G Leadership”. We hope that you and your organization will benefit from using them in any way that you see fit. Let us know about your experience with them, we would love to hear your perspectives. Reach out to our team of global coaches if you would like to further explore these concepts.?

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Terry Lipovski is the Founder of Ubiquity Coaches, an international alliance of over 25 coaches globally, aiming to help people thrive. He can be reached at?[email protected]?or at?www.ExecutiveCoaches.ca