Motivation
Developing Your Leadership Potential – 8 Methods in Which Writing Can Help Motivate Others
If you’d like to learn how to develop your potential so you can have the confidence to go after the goals you have set, sign up for the free 90-Day Master Class hosted by the founder of Addicted2Success.com, Joel Brown.
When all is said and done, we are all writers in one way or another. From high-school essays, college papers, to social media posts, messages and online forum monologues, everyone has had experience with writing at some point.
However, not many consider writing a viable avenue for leadership, whether through blogging or through writing project briefs, motivational messages for coworkers or other forms of written content. In fact, writing can be utilized very efficiently to do just that – motivate others to become their better selves.
Let’s make a case for writing then, and how you can use the medium to convey meaningful words, thoughts and feelings to those around you. Whether work-related or otherwise, you’ll quickly discover that the writer hidden within you has much more to say than you’ve initially given yourself credit for.
1. Take Advantage of The Medium
Writing, in itself, is a very specific medium, a medium as old as time itself. This makes it accessible, sharable and very easy to pick up and practice on a daily basis. However, it can also seem daunting to those who don’t write often, as a blank page can frighten even a seasoned blogger or novelist.
Writing doesn’t require technical skills akin to video editing, 3D modeling, design skills or software-related knowledge. All you really need is a simple text editor, a warm cup of your favorite beverage, and several minutes of your time to put your thoughts on the proverbial paper.
2. Discover your Sweet-Spot
While some leaders prefer sticking to reality such as true stories and practical examples found around us, others like to communicate spiritual, abstract and soul-searching messages to their readers. This means that both approaches (and combinations thereof) are more than viable for your own leadership writing.
Don’t be afraid to insert personal insight, anecdotes, experiences and stances into your writing. Developing a sweet-spot for your motivational content is all about trial and error, as well as settling for a pace and style which suits your personality and writing habits.
3. Brainstorm & Mind-Map Ideas
A great way to establish your “area of focus” when it comes to leadership-centric writing is to brainstorm ideas whenever you have a few minutes to do so. Grab a piece of paper, write down thoughts that come to your mind, and then branch off into their related verbs, nouns, phrases and keywords worth exploring. Then you can start building sentences and rewrite them, or even use a rewording tool to test different versions of your ideas.
You don’t have to be of rich vocabulary and deep thought to take advantage of writing – all you really need is some patience for your own words to surface. Write down potential titles, topics and ideas worth exploring further in order to keep them in your mind for whenever you sit down in front of a computer – by then, your digested thoughts will be ready to jot down.
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
4. Don’t Be a Copycat
What drives most leaders and motivational writers into writing is an example of someone else doing so and moving them in the process. Having a role model and a personality to look up to for inspiration is a highly welcome choice for any writer – however, it’s important not to fall into the pit of copying their style and thought delivery.
Developing your own “I” is what will make your leadership potential soar with readers and ensure that they remember every word you write down. Write in your own voice, in your own style and don’t be afraid to be different from trendsetters or popular online bloggers – the right crowd will flock around your writing sooner than you expect.
5. Leadership through Self-Reflection5
Who are you? The older we get, the more difficult and complex the question becomes. Leaders that inspire confidence and incite change within their followers often lead by example – be it positive or negative.
Whether it’s personal trauma, loving memories of days past or day-to-day events which leave a mark on you – these events all serve to shape who you are as a person and a leader. As such, self-reflection, meditation and introspective thinking should become a part of your leadership writing ideation process just as much as the actual process of putting words into a digital form.
6. Relay Meaning through Quotation
While it may seem cliché to rely on quotes in 2020, habits die hard, and leaders should make good use of relevant and inspiring quotes as much as possible. Quotes can come from unexpected places – be it a popular celebrity, a well-respected member of your community or a friend or family member whose words stayed with you.
In writing, quotes can be used to break up the monotony of subheadings and paragraphs to a great effect, making the content easier to scan and gleam useful information from. Mark and attribute your quotes with respect for their original creators and your readership base will take your writing that much more seriously for it.
“Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” – Larry L. King
7. Make your Writing Accessible
The term “word dump” shouldn’t be frowned upon or taken as a derogatory expression for unclear writing. The first drafts of your leadership-driven content will undoubtedly benefit from rewrites, editing, proofreading, and subsequent formatting before meeting the readers’ eyes.
Don’t be afraid to simply write, akin to an ice dancer free of any doubt or restrictions, and then discern the gist of your content in post-production. It is essential then to treat your leadership writing as a freeform exercise before attempting to narrow your content down to its core meaning and messaging.
8. Inspire Conversation & Sharing
Lastly, the best way for you to develop leadership skills further is to continually nudge others toward doing so themselves. Individuals who aim to inspire confidence, action and initiative within their follower base are bound to build a reputation as reader-centric leaders without a shadow of doubt or self-interest.
Use simple techniques such as calls to action, questions directed at the reader, and social media buttons in your posts to emphasize sharing, discussion and social leadership development. Most importantly – be there for your readers and engage with their comments, messages and questions on your website, blog, social media page or any other avenue you decide to publish your writing through.
9. Authenticity Carries the Day (Conclusion)
At the end of the day, what makes leadership through writing unique lies in its raw nature and power to unite like minded individuals under the umbrella of an inspiring thought put into words.
Don’t think that you don’t have anything new to add or say to the world – it has never been easier to become your own leader first and convey those same emotions and messages to others around the globe. Be authentic to your persona and put your heart into the letters you put to paper – the rest is history.
Are you a writer? If so, share your stories with us below! We’d love to check them out & even potentially feature them on Addicted2Success!
Motivation
Why You’re Failing to Achieve Your Goals and How to Fix It Now
Understanding motivation is crucial because it’s the cornerstone of success
Feeling stuck? Lost in a sea of goals, but lacking the drive to pursue them? It’s time to shift gears and reignite your motivation! Picture this: From stalled to soaring, your journey awaits. (more…)
Motivation
Here’s How Self Motivation Can Be the Bridge Between Your Dreams and Realities
Self-motivation is the ability to motivate yourself without the influence of others
Self-motivation is the ability to motivate yourself without the influence of others. It is the ability to move forward with your convictions and beliefs despite facing several stumbling blocks on your way. (more…)
Motivation
8 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Be More Decisive
Tackling Procrastination and Indecisiveness
Hi, Joel Brown here. As the person behind Addicted to Success and Mind Strong, I’m often asked about tackling procrastination and making swift, effective decisions. It’s a common struggle in today’s world, where distractions are endless.
Procrastination often creeps in when we’re bombarded with social media notifications, breaking news, and the hustle of daily life. This leads to a fear-driven indecision, where we’re paralyzed by the thought of failure or judgment.
Here’s a video breakdown of how to stop procrastinating and be more decisive if you are more of a visual person:
Embracing Speed and Momentum to Stop Procrastination
One of the most impactful lessons in my journey is understanding the role of speed in overcoming procrastination. A mentor of mine, a highly successful individual, always emphasized:
“Success loves speed, and money loves momentum.”
This principle is crucial in combating procrastination. It’s about seizing opportunities quickly, not just for financial gain, but for the invaluable experiences and connections they bring.
Understanding Analysis Paralysis: A Key to Overcoming Procrastination
A major hurdle in decision-making is what’s commonly known as analysis paralysis, a significant form of procrastination. It happens when our decision-making process, governed by the prefrontal cortex, gets overwhelmed. To break free from this form of procrastination, try calming techniques like deep breathing. It’s surprising how such simple steps can clear a cluttered mind and help you move past procrastination.
The Long-Term Effects of Procrastination and Indecision
Procrastination isn’t just about putting off decisions; it can lead to a reduced sense of life satisfaction over time.
In a conversation I had with Tony Robbins, we discussed how the quality of our lives hinges on the quality of our decisions.
Therefore, overcoming procrastination and indecision is vital for a fulfilling life.
My Top Strategies for Beating Procrastination
- Seek Guidance from the Experienced: To combat procrastination, connect with people who’ve achieved the goals you’re aiming for. Their experience can be a guiding light when you’re stuck in indecision.
- Use Deadlines as Anti-Procrastination Tools: Setting deadlines is a powerful way to break the cycle of procrastination. They create a sense of urgency that pushes you into action.
- Accept Imperfection to Move Past Procrastination: Understand that no one is perfect, and that includes you. Accepting this can alleviate the pressure that often leads to procrastination.
Identify Your Procrastination Type to Find Solutions
Procrastination manifests in various forms. I’ve developed a quiz (find it at mindstrongacademy.com/quiz) to help you identify your specific type of procrastination. Understanding your personal procrastination style is a crucial step in addressing it effectively.
Additional Tips on Making Quality Decisions and Beating Procrastination
When it comes to decision-making, it’s important to not get too bogged down in analyzing pros and cons. While analysis is important, excessive scrutiny can lead to procrastination. Trusting your intuition often plays a crucial role in breaking free from procrastination.
Handling Major Life Choices Without Procrastination
For significant decisions in life, whether in your career or personal relationships, procrastination can be particularly challenging.
To address this, break down these big decisions into smaller steps. Assess the potential outcomes realistically to understand that often, the fear of a negative outcome is more intimidating than the actual consequences.
Conclusion: Your Journey Away from Procrastination Begins Now
To wrap up, remember that overcoming procrastination and indecision is about understanding your own patterns, seeking wise counsel, setting deadlines, and embracing your imperfections. It’s time to start making those impactful decisions and enjoying the journey of life.
Whether it’s through the Mind Strong Academy or my procrastination quiz, I’m here to guide you on your path to decisive action.
I believe in your ability to conquer procrastination and live a life of purposeful decisions.
Change Your Mindset
Unlocking Success: Subconscious Reprogramming, Mindset, and Transformative Strategies for Improved Wellbeing and Business Performance
What if I told you that the negative thoughts or self-limiting beliefs that you may have, are not actually yours?
In this article, I will discuss subconscious programming and how it can be reprogrammed in a way that allows you to reach your greatest potential. I will also provide tips on how you can integrate this information as a leader within the workplace.
The subconscious mind is shaped before we begin forming our own conscious thoughts, and these conscious thoughts are influenced by the subconscious mind. This means that even the thoughts that you’re consciously having, are merely an extension of that pre-existing conditioning.
When something becomes deeply ingrained within your mind through repetition, and there are other supporting thoughts that reinforce it, you will identify this information as your truth. These repeated thoughts become beliefs, and your actions will align to support and validate these beliefs.
The Importance of Observing Your Thoughts
If you continuously tell yourself that you aren’t capable or good enough, how likely are you to put in the effort to challenge this narrative? If you’ve always been a procrastinator and tell yourself that you always will be, you’re going to continue procrastinating. If you run into an obstacle and don’t believe you can overcome it, you’re not going to look for solutions or try your best to resolve it.
It’s extremely important for you to become an observer of your thoughts and understand the impacts of how those thoughts can impact your life, relationships, and overall outlook on life.
Here are some questions to help guide you:
– What are your recurring negative thoughts, and how are they impacting your performance and relationships?
– How have these thoughts held you back from achieving your goals and living the life that you’ve always dreamed of?
– What have these thoughts already cost you and what else will they cost you if they don’t change?
Societal conditioning, influenced by a lower level of collective consciousness, has made the experience of debilitating thoughts highly prevalent. It’s not your fault that you have them, but it is your responsibility to change them and choose better ones.
The Subconscious Must Be Reprogrammed
Reprogramming the subconscious involves positive affirmations, visualization, and consistent repetition to replace negative beliefs with positive ones. You have to become aware of the thoughts that make you feel bad and do not serve your best interest.
What are the growth-oriented thoughts that would you rather have instead? Any time that a debilitating thought crosses your mind, always correct it with new thought that uplifts, encourages and empowers you. Be consistent, be patient and understand that your logical mind will not make this process easy for you at first.
Being Delusional vs. Consciously Creating a Better Reality for Yourself
By definition, the term delusional means “holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary”. When you have held onto debilitating beliefs for so long and your previous actions have served as evidence to confirm their truth, it is inevitable that your logical mind will deem your new thoughts as delusional. This is where embracing change tends to become most challenging, as it involves confronting this resistance with unwavering commitment.
What you have to understand is that your former beliefs and former actions do not dictate your future, unless they remain the same. As the old beliefs become obsolete and new beliefs take their place, there will also be new aligned actions that produce different results, and this will serve as evidence to support your new truth. That being said, the most delusional thing that anyone can do is elect to keep an unfavorable mindset that was programmed for them by external factors and willingly relinquish their own personal power as a result of it.
Success is Fundamentally Rooted in the Mindset
How we show up for ourselves and others, communicate with employees, and perform in business are deeply connected to our mindset and everything that has shaped it. Let’s delve into these interconnected aspects and explore five transformative tips that will catalyze positive change in the workplace.
A growth-oriented mindset encourages resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace challenges. On the other hand, a fixed mindset hinders progress and limits potential.
Tip 1: Embrace a Growth Mindset
- Establish the belief that abilities can be developed.
- View challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.
- Cultivate a positive attitude toward continuous growth and development.
Unpacking Trauma and Navigating the Impact
Unresolved trauma can cast a long shadow over our personal and professional lives. It shapes our reactions, influences decision-making, and impacts our interactions with others. Acknowledging and addressing trauma is essential for creating a healthier, more productive work environment.
Tip 2: Prioritize Trauma-Informed Leadership
- Cultivate empathy and understanding for individual experiences.
- Provide a safe space for open communication about trauma.
- Implement support systems and resources for employees dealing with trauma.
Elevate Relationships and Sales Performance
To enhance relationships, communication, and sales performance, a holistic approach that intertwines mindset and trauma-informed practices is key.
Tip 3: Implement Empathy-Driven Communication
- Train teams in active listening and empathetic communication.
- Create an environment where open dialogue is encouraged.
- Recognize and validate diverse perspectives, creating a culture of inclusivity.
Tip 4: Invest in Professional Development
- Offer continuous learning opportunities for employees.
- Develop leadership skills to enhance communication and relationship-building.
- Prioritize sales training programs that align with evolving market dynamics.
Tip 5: Maintain a Positive Work Culture
- Create a workplace where employees feel valued and appreciated.
- Implement recognition programs to celebrate achievements.
- Encourage a balance between professional and personal well-being.
By embracing a growth mindset, acknowledging and addressing trauma, and implementing empathetic, integrated strategies, individuals and organizations can create a transformative ripple effect. In this interconnected web of personal and professional growth, how we show up truly matters, influencing the outcomes we achieve and the impact we leave on those around us.
Enjoy the Journey
As you embark on the empowering journey of subconscious reprogramming, remember that change takes time, and self-compassion is your greatest ally. Surround yourself with positive influences, whether it be supportive friends, inspirational books, or mindfulness practices. Seek guidance from mentors who have walked a similar path and found success in reshaping their mindset. Embrace the discomfort that may arise during this process, for it signifies the shedding of old layers to make way for the new. Reflect on your progress regularly, celebrating even the smallest victories, and be patient with yourself as you navigate the intricacies of transformation.
In the spirit of rewriting your narrative, I encourage you to take the first step today. Commit to a daily practice of positive affirmations, visualize your desired reality, and consistently challenge self-limiting beliefs. If you would like support along the way, consider joining like-minded communities, Facebook groups, and curate your social media to reflect these new changes you want to embody.
Remember, thoughts become actions, and actions reinforce beliefs. It’s never too late to embark on an empowering journey to reprogram your mind, and achieve the life you have always dreamed of!
For more tips and strategies on how to improve your mindset, follow me at @bigdivineenergy.
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
Working Hard Isn’t the Answer to True Success but Self Care is
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks ago
Why No Entrepreneur Can Afford to Overlook Cybersecurity
-
Entrepreneurs3 weeks ago
7 Ways to Become a Better Entrepreneur Today
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
Unlock Your Leadership Potential by Mastering These 6 Self-Management Skills
-
Entrepreneurs3 weeks ago
Motivate and Retain Top Talent Through This Management Technique
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
Daily Rituals of History’s Most Successful People
-
Life2 weeks ago
How to Cope With Burnout Without Losing Motivation
-
Life1 week ago
Rewiring Your Brain for Success: Quick Techniques to Shift Your Mindset Today