Our fight or flight limbic system is wired to protect our physical safety. The human spirit/soul does not need to be protected, it needs to be nourished. How do we nourish it? Meaning and purpose.
This goes right back to Gu’s comments on a recent blog post. The two different systems – motivational and inspirational – both matter. Incentivize the behaviors you want. Reward high performance, let low performers go. Carrot and stick. AND…to bring out the best in people, speak to their spirit, their soul. Inspire them with your vision. With the meaning that can be imbued into their work. Why does their work matter? Who does it serve? How does it fit into the bigger vision? Give purpose to what often feels like the mundane. Give them space and encouragement to find their own purpose in the work. To figure out their own vision and how it connects to the bigger vision (or occasionally doesn’t, and that leads to a good parting).
This all flows from your belief system. I believe we are more than slaves to our limbic system. I believe we’re made for more. What do you believe?
BUILT TO LEAD 