We Rise by Lifting Others

I have never been very good at accepting a compliment …. but one compliment I am always very happy to receive is when I am told that I have inspired someone, especially when the inspiration takes place naturally and without intention.

I have worked with many young people over the years; some have really stood out to me and I just know they will be successful because they are mature beyond their years. I have always seen it as my role to inspire them to be the best they can be and to work alongside them so we that we can produce the very best results, as a team.

I pride myself on not being their ‘boss’, but their role model and mentor and to lead by example.

As humans, we all want to feel connected to somebody or something. We want to be inspired because it is this which helps us to determine who we really want to be. What we are passionate about is usually an indication of what our purpose in life is… sometimes to find this passion and purpose, we need a little guidance or some inspiration.......because it might just be this that is capable of igniting our flame.

I have personally been inspired and influenced by many people, especially in my early working life. Some of these people have had an enormous impact on my life and regrettably, they may never get to know the full extent of it. Years later, I still find myself drawing on this inspiration and all of the lessons that I have been taught by them along the way. The lessons, discussions, perspectives and actions delivered by these people have helped shape the person I am today; something for which I am extremely grateful.

So, it is quite conceivable that the people who are sent to inspire you and teach you something might just leave your life when the lessons have been learnt. I know that from experience. At times, I feel as if I have been standing still in a place where I have seen so many people come and go, impacting my life and teaching me some valuable lessons. We have to accept that people will not stay around forever; that when their purpose has been fulfilled, they will leave to make room for something else to enter. We just have to be happy to let them go and wish them all the best.

But I digress; this is the topic of another blog...

Recently, I interviewed a young lady who is now part of my team. We were chatting in the office and our conversation went back to the day she attended the interview. She told me she had attended another interview around the same time and had been offered that job. The reason she has chosen to take the job with us was that during the interview, unbeknown to me, I made her feel like she had something to offer the organisation and that she would be valued. That we could in fact learn from each other, and be inspired.

The fact was, that during the interview, I was less concerned with the skills she had and more concerned about what kind of person she was; her values, her attitude, what she was passionate about, and whether all of that could align in a way in which we could all benefit. It's a well known fact that skills can be taught but if those other elements are not present then there is no way it would ever work.

It was very interesting to discover, that as well as conducting the interview, I too was being interviewed by her as to what kind of person I would be to work with. Apparently, I passed with flying colours. Phew!

So, yes, I get a big kick out of being told that I have inspired someone. When that happens, I know I have added value to someone and that makes me feel good. This is a gift that I can give, after drawing from, and being grateful for, the inspiration I receive from others.

Now...if I could just work out how to inspire my kids!