Motivation and inspiration are inseparable. In order to set a benchmark at workplace, we should love what we work. This is what inspires others as well. Inspire in order to get inspired at work.

1. INSPIRE TO GET INSPIRED AT
WORK
MOTIVATION:
Motivation is almost always external. Inspiration is what drives you
from within, thereby being far more long lasting. Motivation is
centered on the how , while inspiration almost always asks why or
who making it far more linked to the vision of what has to be
achieved.
SHOULD WE MASTER MOTIVATION?
Motivation is consistently cited as one of the most important tools managers
have for improving employee productivity. Providing external forces that
encourage employees to give their best effort can make a significant
difference in the workplace. Many motivating factors rely on some sort of
reward. For example, a survey from Leadership Management Australia found
that 79 % of employees felt that training and career development
opportunities were either “quite” or “very” important in motivating them to
stay with their current company. In this case, the potential for career

2. advancement was a powerful external motivating factor. Similarly, reward
systems and recognition are often used to encourage greater productivity,
while also improving retention and workplace happiness.
InnovationWithInspiration:
While using external motivation can improve productivity and retention,
quite often, these bonuses are only temporary. As soon as an employee feels
they have advanced their career as far as possible within your organization,
they become likelier to jump ship. To foster lasting engagement, you must do
more than motivate. You must inspire.
So how does inspiration differ from motivation? A recent email conversation
with Sam Taggart, founder of D2D Experts , went a long way in clarifying
the crucial differences for me. “Motivation is a push factor," he
explained. "It’s an outside force that is compelling you to take action, even if
you don’t necessarily want to. Inspiration, on the other hand, is more of a
pull or driving force. It’s something that comes from within that gets us to
proactively give our best effort. When someone is inspired, they’re with you
for the long haul.”
“The only way to
do great work is to
love what you do”
~Steve Jobs
Inspirational leadership focuses on each individual employee, while
also placing great emphasis on the company’s mission and values.
Inspiring managers communicate and live the company values in each
interaction with an employee. They emphasize how the team’s work

3. is making a positive impact in the world. Inspiring leaders clearly
communicate expectations and pay attention to the needs of their
employees. They get to know their team members on a more personal
level so that their words and actions carry greater weight for those
they lead. A focus on inspirational leadership helps change an
employee’s internal mindset. Motivation starts to come from within as
they understand how their contribution makes a difference.
Inspiration – A Game Changer ?
But when there are small steps that one can take towards motivation which can
keep the team going, why does one need to delve into a more daunting concept
like inspiration? This is becauseinspiration is the game changer – the reason
why your people will be working with a far greater purposethan the pay check
and the boostto their careers (no doubt important issues, but still not game
changers). Todayyou might have a team that works efficiently but is not
personally attached to the organization and the work you do. They get the work
done, but when a better opportunity comes their way in terms of money and
designation, won’t hesitate to pack their bags and move on. In contrast, imagine
a workforce that wakes up every morning, charged up by what lies ahead of
them that day. Or better still, imagine a workforce that is just charged up by
everything they do every single day! People that are talking excitedly in every
meeting about the potential of the work that they do and that you do. That looks
at everyone in the organization like a team that’s working so hard towards the
same goals. A workforce that acknowledges each other’s challenges and
struggles and goes out of their way to supporteach other even when supportis
not explicitly asked for.

4. “Go as far as
you can see;
when you get
there, you’ll be
able to see
further.”
~Thomas Carlyle
Where do we need to focus on ?
In reality your greatest leadership successes won’t come by focusing
exclusively on inspiration or motivation. You will need to use both to foster a
successful team environment. For example, a recent survey identified both
motivating and inspirational factors as being extremely important in creating
a sense of belonging among employees. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed
wanted to be recognized for their accomplishments, while 46 percent wanted
to feel like their company cared about them as an individual.
Ultimately, both motivation and inspiration will help your employees be
happier and more satisfied with their work environment. A study by the
Social Market Foundation and the University of Warwick’s Centre for
Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy found that happy workers
enjoyed productivity rates 12 to 20 % greater than a control group.
Things we can do on our part
Inspiration seems daunting because there aren’t any quick fixes. Either
something inspires a person or it does not. What makes it easier though is that
everybody does have something that inspires them at a personal level and it is
possible to find out what these might be. It takes time to get to know them, time
to build that relationship, and of course it takes effort to ensure that they are
inspired all the time. That is, in fact, the difference between a leader who cares
about the team versus one that considers them just cogs in the wheel. One that

5. cares about every person’s growth and development and wants to ensure that
they are growing into the leader they aspire to be.
Find out whether your team member is inspired by people’s experiences,
through learnings and readings, through challenges, through mentors. Block
some time on your calendar at the beginning of every week to share inspiration
of different kinds with your teams. This will keep them going the whole week!
Keep a close pulse on their inspirational moments so that you can even share it
with them when they are not around you.
And then wait for them to inspire you!
Done By :
Jhumpa Sarma
Data Science and Business Analytics Intern
@ GRIPAPR21