Finding Inspiration

Like many, I have really felt the pressure of the new year. Whilst trying to figure out what my goals are and what I wanted to achieve in 2023, I realised my bucket of inspiration was running on low to near empty. I understand many of my peers, family and friends are feeling a similar way, which led me to want to learn more about where our inspiration comes from and how we obtain this to keep moving forward and influencing others to do the same.

Mostly in life and at work, as parents or leaders, we understand there is a responsibility to inspire our children, our teams, colleagues, and peers to keep moving forward to achieve success.

‘Set goals,’ we say.

‘Let’s create clear actions and measures to achieve these goals,’ we’ve heard.

As a talent and learning partner, I work with our business leaders and support them in having these conversations at the beginning of each year. These are the crucial conversations that begin our full year performance cycles. We all know these conversations can feel like a ‘tick box’ exercise if we really don’t draw down and tap into our real desire, or the passion and purpose within ourselves and our people.

Here are a few key insights worth sharing to help you find your inspiration!

Aspiration or Inspiration?

Two words that are often used in a similar context yet have such profound differences are ‘aspire’ and ‘inspire’. Which comes first for you? When we inspire someone, we fill them with the urge to do something or to feel something, to be creative, and it usually has an external impact. Alternatively, when we aspire we are attempting to direct our hopes and ambitions to the achievement of something, and it’s impact is internal. (1)

Think about it. How can we truly inspire someone if we don’t aspire to do so? Even so, what aspirations do you have to inspire or be inspired?

What is inspiration?

To effectively answer the question of aspiration to inspire, we should understand the deeper meaning of inspiration being “the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.”?

In work cultures obsessed with measuring talent and ability, the important role inspiration plays is often overlooked. (2) Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities and propels a person from apathy to possibility. It can transform the way we perceive our own capabilities. Due to its elusive nature, it is most often overlooked, and can be treated as supernatural or divine. Research by Psychologists Todd M. Thrash and Andrew J. Elliott proves that it can be activated, captured and manipulated to have an important effect on important life outcomes. (2)

What’s comforting to know during these early stages of a new year where we feel the most pressure to find this elusive inspiration is that, whether lost or unsure, we can activate and capture what will keep us moving forward.

Press ‘play’ on passion & purpose

Furthermore, what struck me as most important in the quest to find inspiration was a recent interaction on my first day back to work this year. During a conversation with our Global Head of Brand, who after 25+ years in the business, had arrived in Australia for the first time. We spoke of opportunities in the market, developing our learning culture and fashion in the fields. Most importantly, he oozed passion and arrived in our region with a real purpose to find out more about our key strengths as a business. We spoke with real connection on how important it is for our people to be passionate in everything they do & as leaders to unlock the true purpose of these individuals. ?

It is, most definitely, not an easy task to accomplish. We weren’t na?ve in suggesting it is the greatest challenge as leaders, as parents, and as individuals. It makes me consider how we tap into this at a time where the future of work is highly focused around digitisation, flexibility, and well-being. ?The key ingredient for me is authenticity and vulnerability and as individuals how we aspire to better understand ourselves to inspire others. ?

If we consider the moments in life when we are most vulnerable, this is when we unlock the passion that can inspire us to move forward. To step outside of comfort, realise our purpose and leave us wanting more. This is where we can find inspiration…

• Play some music – the right tunes can help your mind disengage from unhelpful loops when we become too focused on a problem or dilemma. During this flow and more relaxed state of being we are able to spot potential new ideas we may have otherwise overlooked.
• Play an audio book - literature is the most valuable source of knowledge which can prompt us to think about situations from the perspective of another person or culture. The simple act of approaching a narrative from another angle is a form of empathetic thinking that can trigger moments of inspiration.
• Play sport or get physical – research has found healthier and happier people experience inspiration more readily than those who feel anxious or stressed. Exercise will improve physical and mental health, and offers space to clear your mind, process your thoughts and assists in triggering the creative process.
• Play with people – this should read ‘speak to’ people, however, I’m feeling playful. We all know that being open-minded, honest and willing to share and listen to new perspectives play a very important role when seeking out inspiration. Studies suggest that new ideas can be influenced by our social environments. New ideas might be our subconscious minds remixing our friends’ ideas into something new, so strike up a conversation.
• Play a movie – whether it’s an epic that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and emotional or a fave that you’ve watched for the tenth time, watching a movie can place you in a more focused state of mind acting as a starting point to unleashing your creativity. (3)

These are very simple, yet my favourite, ways in which you can unlock some inspiration. Other options include reading motivational quotes, journaling, meditation, shaking up your routine, trying something you are bad at, and even volunteering to teach something you know. (4)(5)

It doesn’t matter how or where you find this inspiration, it most likely will happen while you’re doing something you love.

Building an Inspiring Culture

Now that we have potentially found some new inspiration as individuals how do we, as leaders, keep working at influencing a culture of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship?

We all know that most organisations begin with setting the strategy at the beginning of every year. It’s not to say that it is not crucial to the fundamentals of a high-performance culture. However, as renowned management consultant and author Peter Drucker said, “culture eats strategy for breakfast”. You can have the greatest strategy in the world, but if culture isn’t a huge part of that strategy, your business is never going to succeed. (6)

Most importantly it’s about –

1. Providing purpose and clarity - according to PwC research, 79% of business leaders agree that their purpose is central to success going forward. (6) McKinsey research also found that people who found purpose at work are healthier, more resilient, and more likely to stay at the company. However, what’s the point of having a wonderful purpose if we aren’t clear in the communication or how our teams can help achieve it. Stephen Covey created a clever analogy in his book, The 8th Habit. Based on research conducted, with over 23,000 employees, he reported that if our organisations were 11-player soccer teams, 4 players knew which goals was theirs, only 2 actually cared which goal was theirs, 2 knew what position they played, and 9 were competing against their own team members rather than the opponent. (6) What a nightmare! Clarity helps others understand what they need to do, and why they are doing it.
2. Leading the way – in our hybrid world of working, it’s more important now than ever for leader to develop a common vision and goal that enables team members to work together, especially while apart – to help make the vision a reality. It’s about providing clarity and direction, then empowering team members to make it happen. (6)
3. Making connections count – one of the biggest benefits of an inspiring work culture is the sense of belonging and being part of a team.?With fewer opportunities for social interactions and informal ‘water-cooler’ conversations, due to hybrid arrangements, it’s important to make every connection a meaningful one. We know this is not about mandating return to work arrangements, and more about prioritising connections such as social chats during virtual meetings, scheduling regular check-ins. Also ensuring that small connections between colleagues are fostered through project work, ideation, mentoring and coaching opportunities, which all lead to higher engagement levels and a 17% increase in productivity, according to a recent McKinsey survey. (6)

Overall, the benefits of creating a thriving culture where individuals are inspired, passionate and have real purpose, are well understood by most. When we feel inspired it helps us unlock our creativity, increase productivity and boosts our overall happiness. Those of us with a clear sense of purpose that are working towards something bigger than profit helps us to understand that we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves and gives meaning. (7). As a result, staff, clients and the community at large get to experience it, benefit from it and be inspired.

Hello Inspiration!

After spending some time back in authoring mode, I’ve truly realised which comes first for me. I find true enjoyment and get my validation from aspiring to inspire others. That’s where I find my inspiration. Truly the first step is to recognise the potency of inspiration and its impact on everything we do.

I am now ready to set some goals for the new year with one key piece of inspiration in mind. One of my favourite quotes of all time is that of Pablo Picasso.

‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up’.

Embracing my creativity through writing and trying each day to be a better mum to my two daughters and two fur baby dachshunds will be a personal goal for years to come. They inspire me to remain childlike & find the joy each day, especially my cheeky boy doxie – Picasso.?

Article Sources:

1.???Aspire or Inspire – which comes first? Published by Errol Gerson, LinkedIn, on March 16 2017.

2.???Why Inspiration Matters by Scott Barry Haufman, Harvard Business Review, on November 8 2011.

3.???What is inspiration and why is it so important? By Steve Hogary, wework.com, on August 18 2022.

4.???Top 5 Ways to Get Inspiration and Achive Your Goals in Life, by Robert Faulkner, creativewritenow.com, on September 27 2021.

5.???17 Ways to Find Inspiration and Spark Creativity by Nikki Carter, skillshare.com, on March 17, 2021.

6.???How to Create a Thriving Culture in a Remote Workforce, by Dr Amantha Imber, KeynoteEntertainment.com.au, on November 3 2022.

7.???10 Keys to Creating an Inspring Culture, by Peaq Team, peaqpartners.com, on September 10 2016.?