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Inspiring Employees: Seven principles that work

One of the most valuable skills a manager can have is the ability to inspire his or her employees. In her businessknowhow.com article “The Seven Principles for Inspiring Employees,” Terry Barber says the following behaviors can help managers do just that:

1. Being sincere. Managers should appeal to sales professionals with the truth: they truly need them in order to make the company successful.

2. Sharing their goals. “Be creative in aligning their tasks for today with their dreams for tomorrow,” Barber writes.

3. Seeing their potential. Managers who are observant will soon notice unique, inherent talents in their employees. Help them capitalize on their abilities.

4. Being credible. Leading with moral authority and integrity makes it easier for employees to look up to managers.

5. Telling them great stories. Stories that come with a lesson can enrich a manager’s ability to connect with and inspire employees.

6. Reminding them that there’s more to life than work. It sounds unrelated, but by reminding employees that their work is only a piece of a larger puzzle, it can relieve stress and help them aim for their goals. Often goals at work are related to goals in life.

7. Creating a culture of inspiration. The office should be overflowing with inspiration. Instead of focusing on numbers, focus on dreams.

“Raising the inspiration factor one principle at a time will change the culture of your organization,” adds Barber. What kinds of things help inspire your employees? Please leave a comment and share with your peers.