Inspire through energisers
What energises you? There are some things that we do that really energise us. Time seems to pass easily when we are doing it and it gives us a sense that the jigsaw pieces are all in the puzzle.
In this series of blogs, I am outlining 5 areas that can inspire and develop ourselves so that we can inspire and develop others. CRISP helps us do that.
C - Clarity of Purpose
R – Rest & Reflection
I – Input
S - Surround yourself
P – Practise what energises you
The last piece of this puzzle is practising what energises us. So, what are energisers?
It energises
Energisers can be different things for different people.
I know that when I run training – it really energises me.
I know that when I coach people – it really energises me.
This happens because my core purpose is to inspire and equip others and so when I do it, I am walking in and towards my purpose. So, to find yours, ask yourself
What do I?
Why do I do it?
But why?
When you know your purpose and you spend time doing it, you will find that your output or production in this area increases. Knowing what are the energisers for us is crucial. In fact, there is a famous principle to help us with this. The Pareto Principle states that 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes.
Vilfredo Federico Damaso Pareto was born in Italy in 1848. Legend has it that one day he noticed that 20% of the pea plants in his garden generated 80% of the healthy pea pods. This observation caused him to think about uneven distribution. He thought about wealth and discovered that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by just 20% of the population. He investigated different industries and found that 80% of production typically came from just 20% of the companies. The generalisation became:
80% of results will come from just 20% of the action.
When we find the 20% and spend more time doing that, our productivity can rise. We see the impact of what we do and it has the ability to recharge us.
It reminds us of core purpose and we can see impact
When I was a headteacher and I had hard days, or days full of government driven boring paperwork, I would go for a wander around the school and watch the children learning. I would speak to them, hear about what they were learning and soak up their enthusiasm. My purpose there was to inspire and equip young lives and so when I spent time with them, I could see the impact. Sometimes it is important to spend a little time with the people in our organisations and see, smell and touch the impact of our work. This can inspire us as we see progress. It can also inspire us as we see gaps to push on to achieve the next stage.
Find your combination
In June, we had the first leadership lab podcast. https://www.everydayleader.co.uk/leadership-lounge-podcast I invited 3 guests to discuss what they do that inspires them so they can inspire others. Blog link. For each one, there were common themes but a variation on where they energised. Steve wasn’t a great lover of reading but he has found a way to gain from books. Jane uses her musical instrument to help recharge. Daniel goes for a run. Do listen to the podcast. You may find it helpful. We are all unique and so the combination of what works for you will vary from person to person. For you, take the time to examine the five areas of CRISP and then be purposeful about inspiring yourself.
