b'BY MARK NOONBeyond ReasonableH ave you ever had a momentinspiration great leaders offer others.to work on, grow in, learn more about, to when you said something toTo want something beyond what couldsupport you in leading others.someone so profound that yoube imagined, or what they thought theyHelping them achieve their own thought, someone needs to tweetneeded. To not know they are starving personal, and personal professional, this? Of course this was before Twitterand serve them a great meal.goals will inspire them. was renamed X, and only allowed 140People want to be led by someone characters. Maybe you did tweet it,Observing their behavior can tell you who inspires them. How do leadersa lot as well. Watching them as they wrote it, or posted it to Instagram. Thatmotivate others to experience moment happened when I was coachingwork, how they interact, and you asking something beyond what they think isvery precise, specific questions can lead an executive lawyer one day. At least Ireasonable. or even possible? And the thought it was profound. you to the right answers.word reasonable is on purpose. NothingOne day I was running with a I said to him, One of the hardestworthwhile was ever accomplished by things for leaders is to motivate peoplereasonable expectations. Great leadersfriend, and typically we run side by to want something they didnt even knowchallenge people beyond what theyside conversing along the route. This they wanted. It just came out of me,think is reasonable. particular day we had to cross a bridge like I was inspired to say it. So, it got mefor which we had to run one in front of thinking about what that really means.There are at least 3 things you can do.the other. I asked my friend if he wanted Sometimes you say something, then youSimply: to run in front as we went across the have to prove it is real. And, it IS real. 1. Learn what motivates that person,bridge. He said yes, I like to run from from an assessment (DISC/ the front. Once we got across the bridge Leadership is not just aboutMotivators), observation, orand we paired back up again I asked maintaining the status quo, but aboutquestions, as well as your ownhim what it was about running from envisioning a better future and inspiringEmotional Intelligence (EQ)the front, because I like to run from others to join in that vision. Vision andassessment behind. He told me he is motivated innovation are key qualities that inspireby people behind him pushing him to change and growth. A leader with a2. Learn how to use that motivationrun faster. Im motivated by trying to clear vision can articulate their goals andto inspire them to raise theircatch the people in front of me. Simple inspire others to work towards achievingexpectations observation and questions led us to a them. They are able to see beyond the3. Learn when to navigate for them,greater knowledge of our motivations. present challenges and imagine newor coach them how to navigate for possibilities. They are able to inspireHow do you use that motivation to themselves inspire people to a higher level of people to dream beyond the reasonable.What motivates the people you workpossibilities? Heres another way to see this. I waswith and who work for you? watching a recent series of a show calledFirst of all, you must be inspired to The Chosen. This is an inspirationalI have found motivationalachieve before you can inspire others. broadcast about the biblical lives of Jesusassessments are the best source.This sounds very basic, but if you are and His chosen disciples. There is aSimple DISC and Motivatornot self-motivated and/or inspired to scene where thousands were inspired byassessments will get you started.greatness yourself, how could you ever a sermon preached by Jesus, and a manI use these in almost every leaderinspire others to greatness.named John the Baptizer asked a womandevelopment opportunity. TheseOne such inspiring figure is Malala what she thought of the sermon, andassessments help you understand andYousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize she was speechless, unable to describeactually share with you the best wayslaureate, and Pakistani activist. Despite what she heard. John said to her, it wasto communicate with people. facing numerous threats and risks to her like you were grateful for food and didntIn addition, doing your own EQ realize youd been starving. Thats theassessment can lead you to what areascontinued on page 1210 WAMOA JOURNALSPRING 2025'