Be Inspirational: How to Motivate Others Without Sleazy Tactics
Hello, I’m Denise G. Lee, an healing and leadership coach who helps business owners and leaders like you motivate your team members and be inspirational to everyone else you deal with in a genuine and caring way.
That’s why I wrote an article to help you inspire your team without being manipulative. I understand that this may seem like an impossible task in today’s world, where people are increasingly losing trust in their employers and companies.
What To Expect From This Article
To fight against the growing mistrust, we need an advantage. In this article, we will look at the difference between inspiring and motivating others, and how you can build both skills to improve your leadership and succeed in your business.
We will also share practical tips backed by science and psychology to help you be inspiring every day in your leadership role. We will discuss why people are drawn to or pushed away from certain actions. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
First, let’s talk about the difference between inspiration and motivation. They may sound similar—getting people excited and encouraging them to take action—but there are important differences. Let’s clear up some common misunderstandings about this.
Understanding Inspiration vs. Motivation
Inspiration and motivation might seem like the same thing. The goal is to get people to do what you want, right? For many, that means getting people to buy your products and share their great experiences. This is why we sometimes pay social media influencers to mention our products while they talk about their exciting lives.
But here’s the difference: inspiration is about sparking ideas and enthusiasm, while motivation drives action. As a business owner and leader, you need both.
You want your people to truly believe that, through your influence, they can feel confident and motivated to do more than just watch you on TikTok or wherever you broadcast. In other words, people often need certain needs met before they take action in their own lives. To be inspirational isn’t about repeating back some catch phrases you heard at a convention or pep rally. It is about understanding how people tick.
In the next section, we’ll explore the psychology behind why people need ongoing inspiration and motivation.
The Psychology Behind Motivation
No More “Easy and Cheap” Labor
It’s not enough to just hand someone a paycheck or threaten to take it away. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation, people are waking up to the fact that nobody wants to be chained to an office, grinding out 60+ hours a week. Unless you’re a junior banker at Bank of America—those folks thrive on that kind of thing all day, every day.
All jokes aside, people are realizing that burnout is real, and the health consequences can’t be swept under the rug with promises of a pension (which isn’t happening anyway) or prestige (let’s face it, some content creators who started smiling in front of a camera before they could drive are now making more than the average American).
So… you’re going to have to learn how to motivate and inspire your people in a whole new way. To be inspirational to your people, it means less buzz words and more authenticity in your communication. Well’ll discuss how to do that later in this article.
The Mobster Days of Al Capone Are Over
Here’s some more bad news: we also can’t squeeze out every competitor within a 500-mile radius of our business. And we certainly can’t rely on threats or intimidation anymore. The days of Al Capone are over.
Inciting fear and using strong-arm tactics aren’t exactly inspirational. Unless, of course, you live in a crime-infested mafioso town or Venezuela—then it’s just business as usual. But for the rest of us in a civilized society, we understand that our customers have plenty of options for where they can get what they need.
Times have changed, and we need to dig deeper to understand what truly motivates our customers. Once we figure that out, we can genuinely inspire them.
That’s why in the next section, we’ll discuss how to motivate others by understanding the basics of psychology.
Get Your Needs By Understanding Their Needs
According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, people are motivated by a series of needs, from basic necessities to personal growth. And when you show you care, you inspire them to want more for themselves. Here’s how you can apply these insights to enhance your business:
To keep things simple, this section only focuses on how to motivate your customers.
Physiological Needs:
While you might not be able to provide basic needs like food and water for your customers, you can still create a comfortable and welcoming environment for your team as well as customers. For example, I once spoke with a manager at a local grocery store who mentioned that their floral department is right next to the produce section. They also have a station where they offer free samples of products they want to promote. He called it their “welcome mat.”
So, how are you welcoming visitors to your website or store? Don’t just skim by this question. Think about it. What steps are you taking to create a warm and positive environment for both new and returning customers?
Safety Needs:
Pay close attention to customers who depend on your products and services. They might use what you provide to help sell their own products or services. It’s very important to keep everything running well because any problems can affect both your business and your customers. Make sure to listen to what your customers say.
For example, Apple uses Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys to get feedback from people who visit their stores. They review this feedback every day and reach out to customers who are unhappy. This not only helps Apple improve but also strengthens their relationship with customers, making them feel valued and heard.
Social Needs:
People want strong relationships and a feeling of belonging. Encourage your customers to help you make your products and services better. This friendly community will improve the overall experience for everyone.
For example, you can ask for feedback through surveys or social media, and then use their ideas to make changes. When customers see that their opinions are important, they feel more connected to your brand and are more likely to stay loyal and tell others about your business.
Esteem Needs:
Recognition and appreciation boost confidence and motivation. By acknowledging what’s happening within your community and offering help when needed, you can strengthen their commitment and drive to your brand. This often leads to better customer service and a more compelling brand image.
For example, A Dozen Cousins, a Black-owned food company, supports its community by giving yearly grants to organizations focused on food education. Their dedication to social causes is a key part of their identity, showing how businesses can align with community needs.
Self-Actualization:
At the highest level, people look for personal growth and reaching their full potential. By providing learning and development opportunities, you inspire your team to excel, which can boost your brand’s reputation and draw in more customers.
For example, when I was in college, I received a $1,500 grant from Target. Over the past 15 years, I’ve invested far more than that initial $1,500 they gave me for school. When you invest in others, you often get so much more in return.
By focusing on what people want to achieve and grow, you can create a motivated and involved community. This will help boost sales and grow your brand. Now, let’s talk about how you, as a leader, can make mistakes and lead people in the wrong direction.
The Good and Ugly of Manipulation
In today’s competitive business world, some leaders who don’t read this kind of article might consider using tricky ways to get ahead. They might think, “If I don’t do it, someone else will.” But it’s not that simple. What really matters is why you do things. In other words, knowing your intent is key.
We all manipulate. Yes, it’s true!
All of us, for a variety of reasons manipulate others at times. Think about your personal life. At one point in time you might have:
- Bought your partner a gym membership or new workout clothes after s/he complained about their figure.
- Complimented someone to boost their confidence.
- Used a certain tone of voice to get your kids to do their chores.
So what was your intent? Was it to get them to do what you wanted? Or maybe, you wanted to create motivation and inspiration through the use of your words or other incentives.
That same logic goes for your business. When you are persuading your customer to buy, is it just to make a sale? If so, be real about that—nobody is judging you. However, if you want to stay in the game long-term, it should be to genuinely help someone improve their life with your product or service.
As business owners, we want to inspire people to see the possibilities and motivate them to take actions that have a positive impact on everyone, including themselves. But how you do it is key. That’s why in the next section we’re going to talk about how our motivational tactics can sometimes go sideway
Signs You Are Manipulating For the Wrong Reasons
Here are some signs that you might be manipulating clients for the wrong reasons:
- Exaggerating Benefits: Claiming your product or service can solve problems it can’t actually fix, just to make a sale.
- Using Pressure Tactics: Creating a false sense of urgency or using high-pressure sales tactics to push someone into a decision they’re not ready to make.
- Withholding Information: Not sharing important details about your product or service, like hidden fees or limits, to make it look better than it really is.
- Playing on Fears: Using fear or anxiety to convince someone they need your product or service urgently, even if it might not be the best solution for them.
- Making Unrealistic Promises: Telling people they will get amazing results from your product or service, even though you have no proof to support those claims.
- Ignoring Needs: Focusing more on closing a sale rather than understanding and addressing the actual needs and concerns of the client.
The Dangers of Unethical Manipulation
While manipulation may offer short-term benefits, it can have serious long-term consequences with your customers. Here’s why self-focused manipulation can ultimately hurt your business:
Loss of Trust: When people realize they’ve been manipulated, they lose trust in you. Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild, and people will be wary of you in the future. When you try to inspire or motivate it can be bee seen as another way to manipulate or deceive.
Damaged Reputation: Bad news travels faster than a cat on caffeine. Using deceptive tactics can tarnish your reputation. Heaven forbid someone creates a Reddit thread devoted to your how much your business sucks. That stuff is hard to rebound from. Also, it becomes difficult to build positive relationships with clients, employees, and partners when your actions are seen as dishonest.
Legal and Ethical Costs: Manipulative practices can lead to legal troubles and ethical concerns. This can damage your brand’s integrity and result in financial penalties. Do you think anyone wants to hire a perpetual liar like former Congressman George Santos after he’s released from jail? Only if they want to add “identity theft” to their list of professional accomplishments.
Short-Lived Success: Success gained through manipulation is often temporary. Most of us can only lie, smile and deceive before one’s past catches up to them. In other words, karma is real. Real and lasting success comes from building trust and maintaining positive relationships over time.
In the next section, I want to discuss the specific costs that come when we try to act sleazy in business. I want to highlight extreme cases to show you that, while at one point they used their charisma and charm to motivate and inspire, their intent was solely for their own personal profit.
Examples of Bad Leadership
These examples show how disingenuous behavior can lead to major backlash and highlight the importance of being genuine in leadership:
Tony Hsieh (Zappos)
Hsieh was known for his creative ideas about company culture. However, after he passed away, it came to light that the workplace culture had problems and that he didn’t handle employee issues well. This hurt his image as a leader who cared about the well-being of his employees.
Martin Shkreli (Turing Pharmaceuticals)
Shkreli became well-known for raising the price of a life-saving drug by a huge amount and acting like he was a misunderstood business person. His unfair actions led to a lot of anger from the public and legal problems, ending with him being found guilty of fraud.
Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos)
Holmes claimed her company’s technology could perform a wide range of tests with just a few drops of blood. When it was discovered that the technology didn’t work, she was accused of misleading investors and patients, leading to a criminal indictment for fraud.
Ellen DeGeneres (Former Talk Show Host)
The talk show host was known for her kind and inclusive public image. However, allegations of a toxic workplace environment and employee mistreatment led to a significant drop in her show’s reputation and its eventual cancellation after 19 seasons.
I know you’re reading this and thinking one of four things:
- I don’t want you to write about me in your next article.
- I can’t believe people behave like this.
- Forget you, Denise, I’m going to do what I want.
- So…how can I still do my sleazy thing and get away with it without getting caught?
If you’re in camps three or four, I can’t help you. Just close this and switch on a reality TV show if you need more tips on how to be sneaky in your business dealings. But if you’re interested in being authentic, honest, and inspirational to everyone in and outside your business, the following section will help you.
4 Tips on How to Be Inspirational: A Guide to Inspiring Your Clients/Customers
Inspiring your customers doesn’t just come from flashy marketing or big promises. It’s about being real and genuine in your approach. Here’s how you can make a real impact:
1. Lead by Example
The best way to inspire others is by showing it through what you do. When you work hard, stay dedicated, and act with integrity, you naturally motivate those around you.
As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” Be honest about both your successes and failures. Share what you’ve learned, how you learned it, and how you can help others improve. By setting a positive example, you build trust and respect, which can inspire your potential and existing customers to do the same.
2. Tailor Your Approach
Understanding how to inspire involves knowing what motivates different people. There’s a reason we need different marketing campaigns for different audiences.
People are motivated by different things. For example, using the same strategy for Gen X soccer moms as you do for Gen Z men isn’t going to work. You need to understand who you’re working with and create messages that speak to them. Skip the flattery and ask for their opinions instead.
Another way to understand your people is to do focus groups or interview. Don’t rely on information from 3 or even 10 years ago—people change, and so do their needs.
3. Focus on Sincere Recognition
Sincere recognition is key to being inspirational. I remember my old business coach would randomly shout out when one of her clients had a great month in sales. That recognition was incredibly motivating because I, along with the other women in her group, wanted to be acknowledged for our hard work.
Unlike empty flattery, sincere recognition highlights specific achievements and efforts. For example, instead of just saying, “Great sale last month,” you could say, “I really appreciate how you improved your sales page copy. Your words were captivating and compelling.”
4. Be Transparent
Being inspirational also means being transparent. Honest communication about your challenges or extra work builds trust and respect. For example, if you had a rough week because your baby couldn’t sleep due to colic, be honest about it. If you need more time before releasing your next update, let people know.
Nobody will fault you if you let them know what is happening. Regularly update your customers on the status of their orders or services. It is better to flood them with information than be radio silent. This helps them feel involved and reassured that you’re actively working on their needs.
I hope these tips help you. Check out the image below for a quick summary of these ideas. Next, I’ll share my final thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to genuinely inspire and motivate others is key for leaders and business owners. By setting a good example, understanding what makes each person tick, giving honest praise, and creating a sense of purpose, you can build a positive work environment that really gets your team fired up. And let’s be clear—using sneaky tactics and playing games won’t get you far. Earning trust through consistency is the way to keep respect and integrity intact.
Don’t forget to bring that same positive energy to your customers or clients. They want to feel inspired to be their best selves because of what you do. Keep them motivated to stay in your orbit by being consistent, honest, and aware of how they see you.
If you want to level up your inspiration and motivational game, I’d love to work with you. Let’s figure out how to motivate your team and hit those business goals. Oh, and don’t forget to check out my podcast, where I dig into these topics and share practical tips for being a better leader—no manipulation required.
Thanks for sticking with me on this journey to inspire and motivate without the shady stuff. Got thoughts? Send me a message; I love hearing back from you! Together, we can build a work environment that’s not just successful but actually enjoyable—because who doesn’t want to enjoy going to work?
