Gen x, y and z are ruled much more in their lives by feeling that they are making a difference in the world - that their contriubution is noticed and valued. Baby boomers and traditional leadership models have not focused on giving people a sense of purpose and meaning in what they do.
Years ago, i worked with a company that made pillows and it was the time of terrible bush fires in Australia. The owner of the business told his staff that if they wanted to come in one weekend and work for free, he would supply all the materials needed to make pillows and the output of that day would be donated to the victims of the bush fires. They made more pillows on that one day than any other day in the history of that company! That's the difference having some sense of purpose and meaning makes to people's performance!
How can you create a sense of purpose and meaning in your job if you don't currently feel you have one? How can you as a leader (if you are a leader or a parent) instill a sense of making a difference into your team or family?
Recognisiing the specific and individual contributions that people in your team make transforms the way they feel about the work they do - it motivates and inspires!
We all need that sense of what we do makes a difference. At home and at work. That's why volunteering is so good for our bodies and our souls! It's why helping others makes US feel better!
In fact, even if we just WATCH a dvd of someone like Mother Theresa at work, our immune systems are boosted! This does not mean you should just watch DVDs of others doing good! LOL It's even better if we DO something we feel is worthwhile!
DO you have some sense of purpose and meaning in your life? Whether it's to be the best parent you can be; or to be the best employee or leader you can be; or to do a particular job the best it has ever been done - this sort of approach to life makes everything more worthwhile!
We cannot NOT make a difference. So choose to make a positive difference! If you do nothing or worse - you are negative - the influence you have still makes a difference - just not the sort that will inspire you or others!
Inspiration comes from finding our purpose and making our lives meaningful - and we can all do that no matter where we are - it's a way of thinking and feeling!
QUESTION/DISCUSSION how do you make a difference in the world - and more specifically YOUR world! Which in turn changes the bigger world!
