How to Inspire People Four Methods:General TechniquesTo Work Harder

Whether you're trying to inspire someone to quit drinking, trying to inspire people to donate to a homeless shelter, or trying to inspire your workers to give it their all, a few simple techniques can be applied. If you want to bring inspiration to someone, let wikiHow help you get started. Begin with Step 1 below!

Method 1

General Techniques

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   Be sincere. If you seem fake or insincere, no one will be inspired. They would never be impressed with you if you are trying to be someone. They have to think that you believe what you're saying and you have your own concept in life which you believe in living it. If you don't believe, if you're just peddling snake oil as it were, then why should they believe you? The best way to be real, and show that this matters to you to is to make it actually matter to you. Be enthusiastic and throw yourself into what you do. After all its your life.
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   Ditch personal glory. Try not to use yourself as an example when inspiring people. This tends to make it seem like you're making things all about how cool you are. Instead, leave it at a simple "I know where you're coming from" or "I've done this before" and then turn it immediately back around to them. Only share your experiences if they ask.
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   Stay emotionally strong. Never let the people you're trying to inspire see you get really angry or really upset. Stay strong. People get nervous when undertaking difficult tasks, and they need to know that someone is in control of the situation. If you can't handle the pressure then how can they?
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   Expect their best performance. Don't set the bar low. Don't disrespect them by acting like you think they can't accomplish anything. Expect and show them that you expect that they can do great (but not impossible) things.

   • It is important to only ask for things that they can achieve, and the bar is usually best set right above goals they have previously accomplished.
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   Acknowledge problems. If there are hurdles, acknowledge them. Identify what they are. But you should also identify how those hurdles can be handled. Emphasize that they are surmountable. This will give your audience confidence that you are prepared.
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   Make those problems seem smaller. Once you've acknowledged the problems that you may face, make those problems seem not only insurmountable but small. Compare them to other problems that have been faced or talk about why they may not even be problems at all.
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   Draw on cultural examples. Examples from popular culture or history are a great way to inspire people for all sorts of purposes. You can use inspirational movies, historical figures, quotes, or even hurdles that they themselves have overcome in the past.
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   Give them hope. Hope is the most important thing for inspiring people. You have to give them hope. They need to think that there is a goal, a light at the end of the tunnel, a reward for the struggles that they'll face. How you do this will depend on your situation, just make sure not to end on a down note.

Method 2

To Work Harder

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   Lead by example. The best way to inspire your staff to work harder or push through a rough period is to lead by example. Take on more work than you have to and help them with their own work when you can. An active manager who works right alongside them is more inspiring than one who just sits behind a desk.
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   Be their advocate. Make sure that their needs are met. Show them that you care about their personal well-being. When they do something that's worthy of recognizing, recognize it. Promote them when they deserve it. All of this makes them want to do more for you because they know that you're going to fight for them.
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   Make them proud. Get them invested in the work that they do. Make them proud of the product they make or the service they offer. If they take pride in what they do, they'll be much more likely to work hard and strive for perfection.