Top Ten Ways to Inspire Others to Be Their Best

Presented at TCDSB Leadership Strategy (Session 1): Thanks to Lori and Gary for bringing this up ... Sometimes we forget that the easiest and most natural thing to do is also the best thing to do. This list is compiled by Michael Angier. We all know people who are inspiring. But just how does one inspire others? Here are ten simple ways you can inspire people to be their best:

1. Be a good example. People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. Be someone worth emulating.

2. Care about others. People don’t care about how much you know
until they know how much you care. Ask questions. Take a genuine
interest in people.

3. Encouragement. Everyone goes through tough times. When you
support people and encourage them through these times, you’ll be
inspiring them to see the best in themselves and in the situation.

4. Be inspired yourself. Look for people, ideas, environments and
knowledge that you find inspiring and motivating.

5. Share from your own experience. You have more to share than you
realize. Mine the rich experiences of your life and share your wisdom
from your unique point of view. You may be the only one who can
touch someone with your inspiring message.

6. Be vulnerable. Be willing to share your failures as well as your
successes. Others will relate to you. They’ll understand that they’re
not the only ones with challenges.

7. Tell stories. Facts tell and stories sell. They inspire, too. We learn
best from parables and we all need to develop our own inspiring
stories.

8. Be a good communicator. Increasing your ability to communicate
effectively is a critical element for you to inspire others. Watch how
you speak and what you say. Invest in your communication skills.

9. Challenge people. Many of us have had teachers who at times
seemed more like tormentors than mentors. They challenged us to do
our best, and we were better for it. Practice "carefrontation"—the
careful and caring confrontation of others.

10. Read. It may not follow that all readers are leaders, but certainly all
leaders are readers. Stay informed. Share what you read with others.
Tell people about books that have inspired you. Share the knowledge.

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