Transformation through inspiration

The new book "Inspiring Employees" is a guide that shows in which working environment inspiration can thrive. From the importance of company culture to practical steps for managers, the book provides tools to ignite the sparks of inspirational energy in our teams.

In a world that is constantly changing, companies are faced with a huge task: they must not only keep pace with change, but actively initiate and drive change and transformation. At the center of this transformation are not technologies or strategies. It is people: employees determine the success or failure of such changes.

For transformations to succeed, it is crucial that employees have a high level of inspiration. They should be able to continuously adapt to new conditions. They should think innovatively and entrepreneurially. Entrepreneurial thinking in particular is crucial for the long-term success of a company.

The key here is inspiration, as it provides employees with impetus and new ideas. If they are inspired by the company's goals and vision, they think outside the box and proactively seize opportunities for the company. They take ownership. Inspiration is not hocus-pocus, but can be actively cultivated, measured and increased within the company.

The brand new book "Inspiring employees: Promoting inspiration and driving it forward effectively in the company" by Dr. Kathrin Neumüller and Prof. Dr. Thomas Rudolph shows how companies can create inspiring working environments.

Now available from Springer Gabler or Amazon.de.

Inspiration as a new leadership tool

Inspiring employees goes beyond conventional leadership models. Five decades ago, leadership still meant "enforcing the will of others". According to this conventional view, managers should inspire and motivate through inspiring visions. This leadership approach is top-down. It places managers, not employees, at the center of attention.

Inspiration, as we understand it, is bottom-up. With our new approach to inspiration, the focus is on the employees themselves. Our approach focuses on the development of each employee's potential. Because one thing is certain: inspiration cannot be forced. The most the company can do is create an environment that enables and promotes inspiration.

Steps to promote the inspiration of your employees

1. Create a vision: Start by communicating a clear and appealing vision that shows your employees where the journey is going and how their contributions can make a difference. An inspiring vision should be known to all employees. It serves as a north star that provides guidance for everyone in the company.
2. Cultivating an inspiring work environment: An environment that encourages creativity and openness is crucial. This includes physical aspects such as a pleasant office design and psychological aspects such as a culture of recognition and trust.
3. Empowerment of employees: Give your employees the autonomy to make their own decisions. And the resources they need to implement their ideas. Empowerment is a key to unlocking the creative potential of employees. Read our article in the specialist magazine personalSCHWEIZ on the subject of employee empowerment.
4. Ongoing training and development: Invest in the training and development of your employees. Workshops, seminars and training courses are not only ways to improve skills, but also offer employees inspiration. Purpose workshops, such as those offered by Unilever, allow employees to explore their personal and professional purpose. This clarity can have a motivating effect and contribute to the job being seen as meaningful.
5. Feedback and recognition: Regular feedback and recognition for work done are essential to create an inspiring atmosphere. Recognition promotes the feeling of being valued for one's work performance. And feedback can be used to generate and develop inspiring new ideas.

Integration in key figure systems

Key performance indicators have an important influence on a company's performance. You can flexibly incorporate employee inspiration into the balanced scorecard or the EFQM model. This helps you to improve your KPI-based corporate management.

• Balanced scorecard: Inspiration can be integrated into the balanced scorecard as a key figure or metric within the "employee dimension". This allows you to measure the level of employee inspiration and also quantify the impact of inspiration on the overall performance of the company.
• EFQM model: Within the EFQM model, employee inspiration can be considered as part of the "employees" criterion. Promoting and measuring inspiration can help to increase excellence in employee management and development.

Conclusion: Inspiration as a path to more entrepreneurship

Employee inspiration is a decisive factor for the successful transformation and sustainable growth of a company. By creating a supportive culture, promoting empowerment and investing in the development of their teams, managers create an environment that encourages employees to think and act entrepreneurially.

Start promoting inspiration in your company today and lay the foundations for a successful future. You can read more about this in our article in the SME magazine: Has employee satisfaction had its day as a key performance indicator?

Would you like to find out more about how you can create an inspiring workplace culture in your company? Our Inspiring Workplace Index® is the tool for a successful change process. Contact Kathrin Neumüller for an individual consultation.