#40 Fuel for the Soul: Why Inspiration Matters for Healthcare Leaders
Boost wellbeing, drive productivity and build hope
Summary
If you’re feeling uninspired right now, you are not alone. In this episode, I reflect on why inspiration matters now more than ever—how it boosts well-being, drives productivity, builds hope and helps leaders reconnect with their purpose. I share the personal sources that inspire me—like poetry, nature, and the courage of vulnerability—and explore how these can transform the way we lead. Drawing on insights from a range of thought leaders like Simon Sinek and Brené Brown, this episode is your personal boost and a reminder that even in tough times, you can be the spark that builds hope and action in others.
Links and Resources
Inspiration as a physiological construct. Todd M Thrash and Andrew J Elliot
Ken Robinson TED talk: Do Schools Kill Creativity
Keep Going, You’re Doing Great
Simon Sinek Start with Why TED talk
Brene Brown and The Power of Vulnerability
Got a topic you want the lounge to explore let me know here.
Sign up for the No Jedi email here
or if Facebook is more you, join me in the Healthcare Leadership Hub
Transcript
-
[00:00:00] Kia ora and welcome to another episode of The Leadership Lounge. I'm Katie, I'm your host, and I've worked in healthcare for over 30 years. And I now get to work with leaders and their teams so that they can feel supported, connected, and encouraged in the work that they're doing, that you're doing. So The Leadership Lounge is a space for you to take a breath, take a moment and get a fresh perspective on the work that you're doing.
And, boy, what a week, right? Any time, that there is a need to get a fresh perspective. So whether that be a change in health minister or a change in president, there is stuff that's going on. I could go off on a rant, and I have re-shared on social media this last week my thoughts on why healthcare is being used as a political football.
Just drives me to distraction. And drives [00:01:00] us all to distraction. Right, I think that's the trouble with it. And if we want to make progress, if we want to deliver what our communities want and need, then there has to be this loosening of the political interference and ties. And I could go on, and I'm sure there'd be great conversations, and I'd love to have great conversations about that.
However, when I think of the people that I know, and I think of the people, you, who are listening, What I hear, what I get is the feedback around being that inspiration, that hope, that bright spot in your week. That's what I aim to do. To give you the energy, the encouragement, the motivation to keep going.
And so it was interesting because this week had A few conversations with different people, and it's really interesting how a similar theme in the conversations often comes up. Now, I don't know if it's a [00:02:00] bit like when you want to buy a red car, all you see is red cars. And once I've hooked onto some idea, then I'm really noticing other conversations.
But this week, the topic has been about inspiration and feeling inspired. Well, generally the lack of it, to be honest. And when I look at the word cloud I made from last year's, workshops that I've done with various different teams in various different spaces around how they want to feel when they're at work or what is, what they need to feel to be successful in the jobs that they're doing.
Inspired was definitely one of the bigger words. So it's definitely a thing, right? And so I got really curious about this idea of inspiration and what is it and why do we need it and all that kind of stuff. So First off, check out the definition. What does it mean to be inspired and To say you're inspired, it is, it's about, if you describe [00:03:00] someone as being an inspiration or something as being an inspiration, you mean that they make you or other people want to achieve or do something.
So there was a lot in the dictionary definitions around that it gives you the ideas and it's often in that creativity space, but it's that spark, so that was what the feeling is. It's this, you look at someone and you're like, yes, that's what I want to do. Yes, I can keep going.
That inspiration. And then I searched a little bit more and did a little bit more research around this. So why do we need this? Why does this matter that we have this feeling of inspiration? And it got really interesting. So there's been some work done by Dr. Todd M. Thrash and Dr. Andrew J. Elliott who have done quite a lot of research on inspirations and different studies. Some of the key points that came over and the one that I got interested in and read a couple of articles on was this idea [00:04:00] that inspiration increases. Well-being and productivity. So if you think about some of the challenges that we have in healthcare, wherever you're working, well-being, the rise of burnout and how people are feeling, but also the productivity.
We want people to do more. We want people to do more with less. We want them to get a lot done, and inspiration is linked to that. So being inspired increases your well-being and your productivity. The second thing that came out and I had when was searching around for this and really diving into different ideas was this, work done by Ken Robinson.
Now he's got a phenomenal TED talk and his work has been predominantly in education, but he talks about inspiration as a key driver of human potential. And so we're thinking about getting the best out of people, having them do amazing things and challenging situations or to stretch to [00:05:00] that, to where they could be, where are we making the most of the potential that's in the workforce?
That's Another conversation, another open for debate. But I think this is important that inspiration and human potential are connected. And it often in this sort of situation often arises when there's alignment with
our values and our passions. He also talks importantly, that a lack of inspiration leads to disengagement, stagnation, and burnout.
So again, things that there are elements of right now within healthcare and things that are not going to help the work that we are trying to do, that is trying to be delivered every day, that is. Let me just be really clear on that. That is being delivered every day across the world. Amazing healthcare is being delivered every day.
And another concept around why inspiration matters and what helps all this connection with what [00:06:00] we're doing and why we're doing it is the connection with this idea of grit from the work of Angela Duckworth and really this comes from her. That idea is that if we're feeling inspired, we're more likely to take proactive steps towards our goals.
So if we're inspired about the work that we're doing and why we're doing it, then we're more likely to take those action steps rather than drudge, through the day, really. I'm often talking about this idea that healthcare is a long game and that place, and that's going to require grit for us to keep going and to keep showing up, particularly at challenging times or times when there is an awful lot going on or increasing pressure and demands. So that connection with grit and inspiration was also quite interesting to me. And then another person who gives us some reasons why inspiration matters is the work of Dr. Martin Seligman. Seligman?
I have no idea if I'm [00:07:00] saying that right. Seligman. S E L I G M A N. I will obviously be putting links and things into the show notes. On all of these, all of these people that I've done a bit of work on reading around. So he does a lot of work on positive psychology, but also in this idea of hope and how that connects to resilience.
So, building this into the space of inspiration and talking about inspiration builds optimism and hope, which is critical if we're trying to overcome anything that is tough or hard, or hard to do. But it also creates upward spirals of well-being that impact entire teams. So again, hope, I get quite excited whenever hope comes up because that has been, I've ebbed and flowed with it as one of my core values over the years.
But to see this as that space of connection between inspiration builds optimism and hope, and that helps us keep going. [00:08:00] All the dots kind of joined up. So that was just some of the people or the research or the evidence around why does being inspired matters to us.
And I hope you can pull out some of those kind of, yeah, those kind of concepts that matter to you. And then, of course, I was okay, so how do we get inspired? How do we, what is it that we need to do? And actually that was much harder to work out. And if you go back to those definitions, or when I went back to that definitions, it's someone or something that creates this sense of, within you, of inspiration.
So it is deeply personal. What inspires me is not going to inspire the next person. And it could be really interesting just to stop and think for a moment. What does inspire you? What makes you feel inspired? Who makes you feel inspired? I'll often use that phrase, that's who I want to be when I grow up kind of thing.
So there are people out there that I have incredible respect and awe and I am [00:09:00] honoured to know sort of stuff and that they're people that inspire me. But there's also a lot in the words that people use. So I'm often inspired by the words of particular authors or poetry. People like Brené Brown, Simon Sinek, and Jim Collins in that leadership space.
They inspire me because they give me ideas and that creativity in that sense to, Ah, yeah, let's go and share this work. My inspiration often results in me sharing stuff. It is probably why I'm here now talking to you and recording this podcast. So that became an easier question to answer. What inspires me?
So I thought by sharing those that could give you some ideas, it's oh yeah, or no. Because knowing what inspires you is the first step, I think, for thinking about how do we find that inspiration if we are not feeling it or not noticing it around us. Because once I started, I actually made a bit of a list.
So yeah, there's the words, the people. The poetry. I was, I am a bit of a one for a [00:10:00] nice inspirational quote chucked up on my wall. I've got a few kicking around me. The one that I've just turned my head,
that's up at the moment. I'm often swapping them around and changing them up.
The quote I have up, a Maya Angelou quote, People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. So that's one of those things that inspires me around the work I do and why I do it and how I do it. So words, they're a big inspiration for me. Music is another inspiration source for me and I think when, if you've been on one of my webinars or read some stuff around the work I do with the Healthy Mind Platter, I'm often talking about my playlist that helps me get from a zero to a one.
When I'm really feeling particularly low, and this comes up in my spark and support model as well, this, [00:11:00] when I'm in a space of absolutely no energy and there's no one else around, music lifts me up a little bit, so I have a playlist that's just going to pick me up. So music, so words, music. Nature is often listed as a source of inspiration.
I would definitely count that as one of mine. I, that sense of, just an awe of a great view, or an incredible landscape, or sometimes it's the smallness that I feel when you have that sense of awe. That we're just a small part in this massive, wonderful world. That can feel inspiring, and I think it's inspiring because I take myself a little less seriously.
I hold things a little lighter. And that can be inspiring because it gives energy. And I think that can really relate into the space of being part of a team or an organisation. And one of the things [00:12:00] that, certainly when I worked in the NHS, this idea that I work for the NHS, that is a massive thing. And I'm really proud of that and that just inspires me that I am one small part in this incredible organisation that is doing incredible work.
And that was definitely one of my hopes aspirations and dreams for the work that was happening in Aotearoa New Zealand, as Te Whātua Ora was established. This idea is that rather than being a whole group of districts competitive and kind of vying with each other over different things. We could have that sense of being part of something really big, something really important.
So this space of, I'm a small piece in this massive thing that has great purpose and great wonder, that can make me feel inspired.
I'll often think when I'm doing some evening reflection. [00:13:00] One of those questions, who's inspired me today? It's quite a nice, reflective question to add to the end of the day, just before you go into bed or just as you're wrapping up from work. What or who has inspired me today? And when I do that, it is often the stories people have shared, as they've been talking to me, that are really vulnerable.
we often think that inspiration comes from those, big proclamations kind of incredible speakers, let's dial up an inspirational speaker to come to our session. But actually I can often feel as inspired if not more inspired by somebody just having a conversation with you about what's challenging them, what they're struggling with, what's been a real effort.
And those stories when people are feeling either embarrassed or guilty or they've made a mistake, but they're really opening up and being vulnerable, they're putting themselves in a space of vulnerability and they are trusting me with their story. I [00:14:00] am, I feel very inspired by them. And often in that end-of-day reflection, I'll make a note as to why I felt inspired and I'll go back and tell them.
Because I think we forget how powerful our vulnerable stories, our stories of vulnerability can be. And this really connects the work of Brené Brown, with no doubt. But I think there's a bit of a catch in this, or a bit of a warning if you want to be one of those, I want to be an inspiration to others, and you know this kind of, oh I need to be vulnerable, I need to share stories of vulnerability, don't, you can't just do it.
All of these stories come from a space of authenticity and genuineness. And the thing is if you're sharing a story because you think you have to be vulnerable in order to inspire or to connect or to build trust, people are going to smell that. It is obvious when people are just doing it because it's a thing to do versus a genuine, authentic [00:15:00] story where they are actually exposing themselves to a level of vulnerability.
Now that's a whole, it's on that, it's on that very long list of all the topics that we could get to in this podcast. But it is an important thing to know if you're thinking, I want to be an inspirational leader, I'm going to be vulnerable. That's not the point of the whole thing. So yeah.
Definitely what inspires me are stories where people really open up. There was someone I was talking to actually just this week and they dropped their shoulders a bit and then this, the real truth came out, well not the real truth there were these layers and then this deeper layer came out and there was a level of, I feel really runnable sharing this with you and here it is.
They're amazing. Just getting goosebumps thinking about those types of conversations, and they inspire me because of that space of trust, and because of that, I think it connects for me with hope, potential, and connection. I think there's potentially in there; there's that, [00:16:00] when we feel connected with people I feel inspired.
And then the last thing I came up with when I went through my little dilly dilly of how I get inspired what inspires me is this idea of purpose and why I do what I do and when you do a bit of a Google as to how to stay inspired or motivated and that's interesting actually. It's been a while, I haven't got into a sideline yet.
The difference between inspiration and motivation. Oh yeah, that was a rabbit hole. I stopped myself from going down. Because I thought, no, no, no. Let's not tie ourselves in knots over this. Let's talk about inspiration. however. It makes this idea of purpose. When we can really clearly articulate why we do what we do and share it with others.
That fuels inspiration. So when I can clearly say why I do what I do, that's going to inspire people around me. And it's the same for leaders, it's the [00:17:00] same in healthcare. And inspired teams, are they more loyal, more innovative, more engaged? There's a lot to come when we are led by an inspiring leader.
A way to make that, really tangible in healthcare right now, I think, is being able to be consistently Tying what we do every day, those daily tasks, with the overall purpose of why we're here. Why we do what we do. And that's delivering incredible care to the people of the communities that need it.
So there you go. A little of what I hope is a dose of inspiration for you around this idea of, in the midst of everything that is going on right now in healthcare, realising, remembering why we do what we do. That we
are part of something bigger and the role that you play matters. The work that you do makes a difference.
And that by showing [00:18:00] up every day, you're inspiring others. You're inspiring those around you. You inspire the people that you are serving in terms of the communities, the patients or the teams that you are leading. We can do that for each other. Simon Sinek has a great quote, Be the leader you wish you had.
And if you're looking up and around and you're going, I don't know who to get my inspiration from here. Be the leader you wish you had. Ask yourself, what inspires you? Where are your moments of connection with others? What are the words, the poems, the poets, the authors, the music that inspire you?
What is it in nature that you can look at and feel inspired and uplifted by? So there we go. A whole little bundle of inspiration for you from the why to the what to the how to put it Into what you do every day. I Wish you an amazing [00:19:00] week full of inspiration Connection and joy in the work that you do.
You are doing an amazing job You are probably doing better than you think you are by far and I have, of course, forgotten to do any of the prompts that I'm supposed to do, like, I'd love it, and I mean this now, this is not a tick box that I'm doing, this is a, I would actually genuinely love it if you would do a review, or a like, or a follow, on whatever you're listening on, whether that be Spotify or an Apple.
Flick me a message. I'd love to hear from you. What does inspire you? What does make a difference in your days when you're looking around you like, and what, why? Where's the inspiration? Have a think. There'll be some things there. And I'd love to hear from you. Equally, I'd love to know what topics you'd love to see coming up.
I have a list, obviously, that I keep making and generating the stuff out of. But what I want to do is be of service to you. To provide those perspectives and those ideas. If there's a topic you want to [00:20:00] delve into, please, let me know. I'll go googling away and see what I find out. It has been a pleasure sitting here again, listening, listening to myself.
No, you see the thing is, my, my trauma today, this week's podcast trauma, was trying to get the headphones to work. So I've tried a thing, And I'm not quite sure. I'm going to listen to the playback in a minute and really fingers are crossed. It's all going to work fine. So that's why I'm jumping into what this is going to listen, listen, listen, like sound like.
Thank you for being here, and listening to me. It's a pleasure to be talking to you again. And I look forward to seeing you in next week's episode of the leadership lounge. Take care. Have a wonderful week.
