In his book The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization, John Maxwell wrote something I’ve long held true. It’s about where we find our inspiration. What did Maxwell write?
He said:
As they read the newspaper, watch a movie, listen to their colleagues, or enjoy a leisure activity, they are always on the lookout for ideas or practices they can use to improve their work and their leadership.
Photo by William Daigneault on Unsplash
Who are they? Maxwell was talking about leaders who are willing and able to grow. They don’t hold a fixed mindset telling them they can only learn from certain aspects of life.
No…
They can learn and be inspired by anything, anywhere, anytime.
What’s Inspiring You?
I want you to think about what’s inspiring you. Do you discount specific venues of alternative education? Can you watch a movie and be inspired with a new leadership insight? When you play in a recreational soccer league, do you see how the sport can relate to a leadership challenge you’re facing?
You should, if you’re looking for leadership inspiration.
Every activity and every action we take can point us toward personal growth. We can look at every activity and see a way we can apply what we’re doing to what we do.
Where To Look For Inspiration
There are plenty of places you can look for inspiration. I love to look in the odd, off-the-beaten-path locations. These tend to intrigue me the most and get my mind racing.
The unique areas of inspiration could be:
- An ice climbing trip
- Going to the movies
- Talking to a good friend
- Listening to The Who
- Taking a walk with a loved one
- Attending a church service
- Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane
Inspiration is all around us. We have to keep an open mind and look for it. The more we look, the more we’ll find spontaneous moments of inspiration.
At first, you’ll be shocked. You’ll wonder how you made a connection between knitting and leadership or getting a puppy and training new employees. Yet, as you continue looking for leadership inspiration in new and unique areas, you’ll realize leadership inspiration is everywhere.
Don’t stop looking for inspiration. It’s all around us. Your next dose of inspiration is just waiting for you to uncover it.
