Leadership Soft Skill: Motivating & Engaging Others
Posted by Orrin Woodward on March 28, 2013
Leadership Soft Skill: Motivating & Engaging Others
Leadership Motivation
The seventh leadership soft skill, according to the Center for Creative Leadership, is motivating and engaging others. This is the crux of leadership. For if a person cannot inspire others to achieve more, he is not truly leading.
Before leaders can inspire others, they must be inspired themselves. Reading, listening, and associating is essential for any leader because, as Ronald Reagan once said, “I am not a great man; I’m just committed to great ideas.” In essence, when a person swims in great ideas, the world-view, mindset, and attitude soak into him.
Unfortunately, few people understand this. Most run from business to business, seeking the shortcut to success. When actually, success is a matter of immersion into the greatest thoughts and leaders one can find. Why I love the LIFE community is that it provides the association necessary to learn the great ideas from great leaders so that people can do great things. The testimonies of the changed lives in LIFE is amazing even though I have been witnessing this first hand for years.
There is an old saying that expresses a candle must be lit before it can light another one. In the same way, a person must set himself on fire with great ideas and then light others on fire by his passion, belief, and vision. The greatest leaders, in other words, were first great followers. In fact, I have said for years that if you are too big to follow then you are too small to lead.
The world needs a leadershift. It won’t happen until enough people immerse themselves into the greatest ideas on leadership available today. Each generation has its own challenges that require responses. The founding generation responded by creating a company. The civil war generation responded by ending slavery. The WWII generation responded by winning a global conflict. Today’s generation must respond by launching the leadershift!
Sincerely,
53 Responses to “Leadership Soft Skill: Motivating & Engaging Others”
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Turhan Berne said
Orrin,
Once again, well written and inspiring. I will continue to read, listen, and associate with the multitude of information put out through this LIFE business. And, I will continue to share this message.
Chad Waters said
Hi Orrin.
I love the candle analogy!
I agree they need to follow before they lead, but how do they know there following the right “pack”? Does time alone prove that? The “test” of time? Maybe a whole separate blog!
Can’t wait for your book and especially the response of the General public seeing what the Life Business is all about!
Today Is Always The Day!
Orrin Woodward said
Chad, great question. The Bible says you will know them by their fruit. Follow people who produce the fruit you want in life. When I saw how community building was changing mine and my friends lives, I was hooked for life! 🙂 thanks, Orrin
Chad Waters said
Thanks Orrin!
See you soon!
Matt Mielke said
I have witnessed “fruit” not only in the lives of the leaders, but from 1000’s of individuals that aren’t leading the company, but have applied the information in their personal lives. I too am hooked for life!
Chad Waters said
I agree Matt we have seen several thousand! Now we have two perspectives to add to the question! Thanks
Christine Fleury said
This is a great question, and response. I think I’ve spent a lot of my life so concerned about “not doing the wrong things” that I wasted years not doing anything with the great things that were right in front of me. I don’t understand every single little detail of the comp plan/how it’s going to look and feel leading thousands someday/all the steps along this whole journey. But i do know that those who have walked this path are the ONLY people who have all the fruit I’m looking for in my life…peace, a sense of purpose, ALIVEness/passion, character, great marriages, stronger relationships with God spouses kids and friends the further they go on the journey, time money freedom, choices… I have seen a lot of this fruit in my own life already still at the beginning of my journey, and even though there’s more to come, I like who I am when I’m doing this. I’m proud of who I see myself becoming daily the more I surround myself with this community and strive to move forward in it. I finally see what they’ve been saying all along…it really is who you’re becoming that’s the real victory and the real magic. I would like to say I can see my husband and I becoming PC members and “reaching the top of the charts”, and do think that will happen….but I know now that whatever the ultimate outward result is, I will continue striving in that direction and doing this for the rest of my life because of what it’s making out of me. Thanks for the great blog and truths.
wendi witkowski said
Count me in! Thanks Orrin for the great information. I can’t wait to get my copies of Leadershift and sharing them.
Peggi Kern said
I’m so thankful for this leadership community and the leaders who truly inspire!
Barb Bartel said
Hi, Orrin.
I love starting my day with your blog. Always an inspiration. Thank you.
You said once, “Set yourself on fire and people will come for miles to watch you burn!” This community is getting SO fired up, there will be an explosion when “Leadershift” is released! Thank you and the rest of the Life business for making our lives and so many others lives so much better. Let’s keep spreading the word and get our country back to where she belongs!
Adam Gonzales said
Life changing!
Farrah Sargent said
Good Morning Orrin, thanks for this post. I have found this true in my life for sure. I was just kind of floating along. Which I was thankful for because that meant I was not sinking. I could feel that there was supposed to be more though. I was not able to bridge that gap , until I was able to become immersed in this community. I am now able to get out of the water and start climbing the mountain. Thanks again Orrin and PC for making this LIFE possible!!!
Jason Dames said
Orrin thank for dealing in great Ideas and Inspiring all of us to do the same!!! God bless you!!!
debbie Murray said
great blog I am soon finding out that you can lead a horse to water but you can not make them drink” as well as you need a lot of crazy glue to fix Stupid!
John HATCHELL said
Thank you I needed that was going down rabbit hole with upline (JJ) on basics. You rock Coach keep it coming!!
Steve Duba said
Thanks Orrin.When first introduced to this organization I was a little overwhelmed.Two years later and I’m still overwhelmed.
However,the feeling has definatly changed.The purpose has got me,and the belief continues to grow daily.What more noble a cause
than to help people change and grow to accomplish their dreams while creating a culture of leaders with a grand vision for
tomorrow. God Bless
Esther Bontrager said
Great nuggets. I’m so excited to be alive in this era. The difference we can make when we dig into the greatest thoughts of all time! It’s great.
Dream Team Legacy
Tim Marks said
Orrin
I can’t wait to get on the road for your book signing tour. It feels like what Paul Revere did so long ago when he went through town yelling ” the British are coming “. Leadershift is basically saying ” the Government is coming”!!! And here’s what we can do about it!
Tim
Philip Brittain said
Great analogy Tim! It’s time for the LEADERSHIFT!
“One if by land, Two if by sea” is the quote I’m reminded of.
What about a new one for the Leadershift trilogy?… These books of three, Big changes we’ll see.
Heidi said
Orrin, We notice that people who have been in other businesses (including us) are always impressed with the difference they see in LIFE even if they can’t put their finger on it at first. Thanks for revolutionizing this industry and being different.
Mike Coulter said
Orrin, let’s light a big fire! I’m fanning the flames!
Thanks
Mike
Steven said
As a person who just floated through life, I realized that I wasn’t going anywhere. Orrin, you words have inspired me to push for what I believe in and strive for excellence. I would always say I knew something but never applied it
Randy Robson said
Well done, Orrin Woodward.
Bill Eder said
Orrin: This blog sure rings out loud and clear. We experienced the meaning in Kenosha last night at an open with George Guzzardo explaining association being key. Thanks to you and the PC we in this organization have many with the fruit we learn from. God bless and a Blessed Easter to all.
Kristen Seidl said
Amen Bill, George lit a fire under a lot of people last night. Such an amazing night and group of people we get to associate with! Proud of you.
Philip Brittain said
Short, sweet and to the point! I love it Orrin! I love getting a cup of coffee, plugging in the latest SYSTEM discs and reading your blog. It’s better than drinking a whole pot of coffee at once! I get so jacked up! God is doing some amazing things and we are so pumped about where He is taking us! We are on the verge of someting so big it can only be described as being of Biblical proportions! God has major plans for our area and we are so very excited to be apart of it!
Thanks Orrin for your 20 years of consistant growth! You hold the bar high for us all.
Christine Fleury said
Thanks for another fantastic blog!
MARIO VEGA said
THANKS TO ORRIN WE WILL HAVE THE LEADERSHIFT WE MUST HAVE, TO CHANGE THE COURSE THAT MUST CHANGE. THANK YOU ORRIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. LIBERATORS.
Kristine Militello said
AMEN!
And come on with the book already! I’ve heard the end and read the beginning….now to finally get my own copy and read the middle : )
Heather Coleman said
An inspiring blog. Here in Australia belief is growing. By lighting our candle, reading, listening, learning, associating, being inspired and sharing a vision we are moving forward and are often not aware of our influence on the people around us. This was brought home to me earlier this week when I was given a “thank you” card recognising my growth in leadership. A surprise because I had never considered myself in this light before.
Thank you Orrin and all the other PC members.
Kevin Hamm said
I am hooked and motivated.
CJ Calvert said
Great blog Orrin!
Scott Heidrick said
This is so on track! Great stuff Orrin. Thanks
Pete Bailey said
you have to go through something to get some where, but if you don’t resolve to change your life will go on with the same lens effect.As men lets find our blind spots lead this country as our for father’s did with pride and dignity this is the home of the free and the land of the brave let’s prove it.
Pete bailey said
We have to go through life to get some where this is the land of the free and the home of the brave let’s prove it LEADERSHIFT.
Angie Ballah said
Thank you for the reminder to magnify the fire in myself to magnify the inspiration of others! We appreciate seeing you and all the founders of LIFE showing us this example!
SOUPIE Shaw said
Thanks to LIFE my candle is lit 🙂
Easton Kelsey said
Orrin,
I am so on fire for the purpose of LeaderShift and the LIFE community! We ARE shifting society one person at a time! It is the only way true change will come about. Not calling our elected officials to angrily tell them how they should be representing us!
Thanks!
Easton Kelsey
Rascal Nation/ Team One Purpose
Carla MacLellan said
I really enjoyed that Orrin. I am so looking forward to your book, Leadershift. What a great Fathers Day gift! Thanks so much for your leafership!
Go team Kaizan
Mary Ellen Robson said
When you feel it–you can’t deny it–and have to be there to declare it!!
Omar chetta said
Thanx again for great blog Orrin !
Dennis Cross said
THANKS ORRIN, YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE GOIN, YOU GOT ME GOIN THANKS
Josh Bates said
I have certainly been working on this. I work to change myself and thereby change the world!
charlie Mallios said
I have been in business for 40 years and have helped others to start their own businesses. There was a young fellow 15y/o who came to me wanting any job that I had. He washed cars and bussed tables. When he turned 18, I taught him to bartend. He became general manager in about 5 years. He worked for me for 25 years. When he was 40 years old, I sold my restaurant and helped him buy a dairy queen. Today he owns a dairy queen, landscape business, health club, and beauty shop (his wife) and a beautiful home that is paid for. He was a great student. The skills we learn in LIFE are essential to life: Mentoring, associating, being a good student in quality materials. Thanks for all you do.
Rickey Alterman said
Orrin you are always inspiring.
joshua bayless said
That is Great Orrin! Thanks for leading this Leadershift!
Elaine Mallios said
Just like my momma said, “you better watch who you hang out with.”
Tammy Forshee said
The association with LIFE has completely changed my direction! I already craved learning and was on a good path in life. Thanks to my mentors, Scott and Teresa Heidrick, for showing me this business and directing me down a better path of servant leadership. I’m loving the association and reading! I can’t get enough! Orrin, you are brilliant, yet humble! Thanks for motivating me to tell everyone to be involved in a much needed LEADERSHIFT!
Christopher Scott said
Thanks for writing this post and for the emphasis on immersion into great leadership ideas. I also like your take on Reagan and how he said he was not always a great man, just that he was committed to great ideas. This is something to think about.
Do you think that if we are committed to great ideas on leadership, we will become great leaders? Is that something that will help us grow as leaders?
Thanks for sharing.
Orrin Woodward said
Christopher, Great questions! I think great leadership starts with immersion in great ideas, but the rubber hits the road when people start acting upon what they are exposed to. Like one of my college professors used to say, “When all is said and done, much more is said than ever done.” We need people who will act upon the great ideas to launch a leadershift! thanks, Orrin
Kim Decker said
Orrin,
This we know as you have lead us to the truth is true in itself as we have studied and learned. People around will realize this soon and hopefully not when itsa too late. Awesome article
Jonathan Mecham said
Awesome post. Few things are as inspiring as a leader who forges the way ahead, always willing to give a hand up but never a hand out so that those around him have the opportunity to grow into inspiring leaders themselves. Thanks for leading the way, Orrin!
SJ Barakony said
Excellent topic.
There’s a clear tie in to the best selling ‘LLR’ book’s discussion in depth of the three levels of motivation.
That’s one of my favorite parts of that book, and in reading this post, that immediately jumped into my mind. Have a wonderful week ahead!