17 Ways To Inspire Everyone Around You

Here are a few ideas to get you started with inspiring everyone around you:

1. Be authentic and true to yourself.

In this crazy world that's trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths, and beauty like no one else. Be the person you know yourself to be - the best version of you - on your terms. Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart into it, take yourself out of it. No, it won't always be easy; the only challenge greater than learning to walk a mile in someone else's shoes is learning to walk a lifetime, comfortably on your own.

2. Stick with what you love.

Take part in something you believe in. This could be anything. Some people take an active role in their company, join social clubs supporting causes they believe in, and others find passion in their work. In each case, the psychological outcome is the same. They engage themselves in something they strongly believe in. This engagement brings happiness and meaning into their lives. It's hard not to be inspired by someone who's passionate about what they're doing.

3. Express your enthusiasm.

Passion is something you must be willing to express if you want to inspire others. You can gain a lot of influence just by publicly expressing that you are excited and passionate about a topic. Expressive passion is contagious because of the curiosity it stirs in others. You'll get people wondering why you love what you love so much.

4. Excel at what you do.

People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. Be someone worth emulating. Most people are inspired by GREAT leaders, musicians, writers, painters, speakers, entrepreneurs, engineers, mothers, fathers, athletes, etc. There's only one thing they all have in common: They excel at what they do. There's no point in doing something if you aren't going to do it right.

5. Focus on building your character.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others temporarily think you are. A genuinely good character always shines and inspires in the long run.

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6. Care about people.

People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care.

7. Challenge people to do their best.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be." If people know we expect great things from them, they will often go to great lengths to live up to our expectations.

8. Lead by example.

Practice what you preach or don't preach at all. Walk the talk! Be the change you want to see in the world. If you really want to inspire others to do something, then this 'something' should be a big part of your life. You don't necessarily need to be an expert at it, but you do need to be passionately involved.

9. Articulate what everyone else is thinking.

We are very connected to each other in various ways, the most important of which is our thoughts. Out of fear, worry or shyness, lots of people hesitate to articulate their thoughts. If you take the risk and say the things others are holding back, you become the glue that brings people together.

10. Make people feel good about themselves.

People will rarely remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Start noticing what you like about others and tell them. Go out of your way to personally acknowledge and complement the people who have gone out of their way to excel.

11. Help people heal.

Instead of judging people by their past, stand by them and help repair their future. In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact on someone else's life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that's greater than you - something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less. Everyone values the gift of unexpected assistance and those who supply it.

12. Share lessons from your successes and failures.

When you can, be a resource to those around you. If you have access to essential information, don't hoard it, share it openly. 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. 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.

13. Keep your cool in tense situations.

What you do in a tense situation says a lot about your limits. People take note of how far the pressure or social discomfort around them goes until they lose control of themselves and the situation. Keeping your cool in tense situations lets people know you have a mind of steel - a personality trait most people are drawn to.

14. Focus on the positive.

Be happy with who you are now, and let your positivity inspire your journey into tomorrow.

Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad. It just depends on your perspective. And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should. Either you succeed or you learn something. So stay positive, appreciate the pleasant outcomes, and learn from the rest. Your positivity will help encourage those around you.

15. Keep your promises and tell the truth.

Inspire people with your dependability and commitment to the truth. If you say you're going to do something, DO IT! If you say you're going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT! If you can't, won't, and don't, then DON'T LIE. It's always better to tell people the truth up front.

16. Listen intently to what others say.

Make people feel important, and inspire them by showing them that they are. Eyes focused, ears tuned, mobile phone off. In a world that can't move fast enough, someone who can find time to listen to others is always appreciated.

17. Communicate clearly.

Mystery does not inspire. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Share your vision and ideas often with those around you. Also, be sure to maintain eye contact when communicating. When executed properly, eye contact injects closeness into human interaction, which captivates attention.

In the end, everything you need to inspire everyone around you is contained within you. So get out there and start inspiring people with who you are and how you live your life.

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About the Author Jennifer Orechwa

With over 25 years in the industry, and now as IRI's Director of Business Development, Jennifer has gained a unique perspective on what it takes to build a culture of engagement. By blending a deep understanding of labor and employee relations with powerful digital marketing knowledge, Jennifer has helped thousands of companies achieve behavioral change at a cultural level.

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