It took me some time to truly believe in people’s capacity to lift others up in the corporate world through their skills, especially in this modern age. I had seen many motivational speakers and spoken with numerous tech leaders who clearly understood what drives motivation. Yet seeing leaders who could genuinely put those ideas into practice was and still is rare. Although I had read about and observed what underpins motivation, it took a while before I truly believed it could be applied consistently in real organisations. To this day, I think it is nowhere near the level it should be, hence why I root for getting good people to the top.
The reason is simple: organisations are remarkably diligent in appointing ruthless leaders, and such leaders tend to rely on force rather than empowerment. There is also very little investment in those who genuinely wish to become skilled at motivating others.
The good news is – it may appear to be somewhat of a lost art, but I can assure you it does exist.
A magic trick
There is a fascinating principle that applies to magic tricks that I would like to unfold in order to make my point clearer about what motivation is, and what believing in someone can do for people. When you sit in the audience at a magic show, you know you are witnessing an illusion, yet you still allow yourself to enjoy it. In those moments, your brain does all sorts of things at once: trying to work out the trick while also relishing the pleasure of being deceived.
My favourite kind of magic in real life is connected to the psyche, particularly the kind that happens simply by expressing belief in someone, even before any results have appeared. To me, that is a remarkable form of magic and one I wish more leaders would practise. Succeeding in it requires both emotional intelligence and experience. Emotional intelligence allows you to recognise who genuinely needs encouragement, while experience helps you choose the most effective approach.
In this context, there is the concept of the Reality Distortion Field, popularised by Steve Jobs through his extraordinary ability to make people believe that the impossible was, in fact, possible. You might agree that this is a powerful form of corporate magic. Not everyone can do it, but those who cultivate this ability often achieve exceptional results because they understand something about the human psyche that is rarely fully appreciated.
It is similar to the visualisation techniques many athletes practise before competition. They rehearse their moves mentally or picture themselves winning a point or scoring a goal. Because the brain does not fully distinguish between vividly imagined actions and real ones, this mental rehearsal helps them achieve better results. I do think this can be applied in many areas of our lives, including work. But if you can’t see the goal for yourself, it is always good to have someone believing in you that you can. Imagine having a leader who can help you see your own potential before the evidence is visible. That is a powerful gift, and an extraordinary thing to offer another human being.
The power behind the skill
The power of encouraging us has always been present in some form. There is almost always someone who acted as our motivator, a parent, a friend, a sibling, or perhaps a teacher. If you go far enough back, you will likely find at least one such person whose belief in you helped guide your path.
That same ability also translates into the corporate world. Just because people have grown up does not mean that this kind of encouragement loses its power. On the contrary, I truly believe it still matters greatly. I can take myself as an example. Even now, I sometimes need a small dose of umph when things do not go my way. That feeling is entirely natural, and you will find it in the corporate world as well. This is precisely why the ability to uplift others is such an important skill for a leader.
The ability to encourage and elevate people is a real gift. And if you ever have the opportunity to become a leader, you will see first-hand what a powerful difference that can make in someone’s life. I have my own stories of people who were lifted simply by hearing the words, “I believe in you.” Believing in people can do wonders for them. In some cases, it can help quiet the doubts that hold them back, or even support them in moving beyond past experiences that have shaped their lack of confidence.
Very often, people are limited by their own inability to believe in themselves, and that lack of belief usually stems from deeper underlying issues. When someone else expresses genuine belief in them, it can be the spark that helps them see their own potential more clearly.
I ask only one thing of you: if you ever become a leader, or if you already are one, be the light for your people and believe in them. It can do wonders.