Be an Inciter

Have you been incited by a coworker lately? Do you incite them? If not, why not?

If you think that by “inciting your workplace” I’m talking about the mob of angry faces staring at you as they walk past your desk because you took the last cup of coffee and didn’t make more, that’s not it. “Incite” also means to encourage or inspire. I think everyone should strive to inspire and be inspired by those around them.

Now, I’m not saying that you work with uninspiring people. Perhaps that is the case, but how well do you know your co-workers or do they know you? Do you spend time in conversation with them outside of work-related projects? That’s one of the best ways to be incited or to incite others.

By nature, I’m a people-person. I love having conversations and getting to know what you like or don’t like, finding out if you have a sense of humor (hopefully you do). Even if we have differing viewpoints on a topic, that’s okay, because I still learned something about you in terms of your character and belief system.

I recently told a colleague that I wish I was more like her. She has a confidence that is unwavering; a boldness that is refreshing and is seemingly unafraid to scratch the itch of curiosity, come what may.

I, on the other hand, tend to be more conservative and less of a risk-taker and there are times when being more “out there” would have been good. I am a control freak, however, which doesn’t allow for much risk-taking when I don’t know 100 percent what the outcome will be. The fact that she doesn’t either but moves ahead anyway is amazing!

On the flip side, I have been told by others around the office that I am inspiring to them. Something as simple as getting up early to work out can encourage others to take steps to better their health. Okay, so maybe getting up early to go to the gym isn’t simple, but you get the idea.

Moving someone else or being moved yourself in a positive direction is never a bad thing. I’m looking for the next person in my office to incite me or I them. How about you?