How To Be A Leader Who Influences, Inspires, And Motivates

Corporate Leadership Trainer Beate Nimsky, 66, has no problem presenting in front of 500+ people. She is a gun for hire, utilized by Ericsson, Europcar, Bosch, Siemens and Georg Fischer Automotive and other companies wanting to positively influence their mindset and culture.

As a child, however, Beate was silenced by her parents. Often. She carried this habit of shutting down into adulthood till a good friend pointed out she had “no voice” and was “asking too little of her life” so she made a decision to find it. Her voice. And use it.

“When I first stepped into leadership positions, I had to develop the inward courage to say what I authentically had to say,” Beate says. “When you know your own voice, you are not at risk of being controlled by other people’s expectations and judgments. It leads to profound confidence in yourself and your ability to be okay, no matter what.”

Today, Nimsky teaches corporate leaders how to connect with their authentic voice through her Right Voice for You program so they too can influence, inspire and motivate. Whether it’s a small team meeting or a large industry conference you’re presenting at, some of her top tips, include:

Never mimic another person’s message or delivery style

Mimicry is always the reduction of your own energy, personality and choices. Find your own right voice and deliver your message in your way, without judgement.

Get clear on your message by asking yourself questions

What do you want to see different in your company? Your staff? Your audience?  Or is it your industry or your culture? Make sure the answer inspires you as it will increase your joy and your capacity to influence others when you open your mouth to speak.

Communicate that message, clearly and often

Talk to your staff about the meaning and values behind the company’s strategic direction. If the employees or audience understand your message and connects to the meaning, it’s easier for them to work hard, take action and be on brand for you.

Know what you want your audience to do with your communications

Talk to your audience as if they have already done what you’re asking of them. If you want to inspire a particular type of action, it’s always about knowing what you want them to do with the message, not the message itself.

Connect to the energy of everyone in the room

Before speaking to an audience, get a sense of yourself and what kind of future you want to create in the world. Next, inhale the energy from behind yourself, move it up and out to the back of the room, then pull it back through every person in the room. Repeat.

Back yourself with positive self-talk

Firstly, prepare well. When it’s time to speak, tell yourself that ‘all I need is within me now’. Don’t go over the speech in your final minutes. Simply just be with yourself lovingly, knowing that everything you have to say will be there for you.

Engage your audience by asking questions about their future

Get audience members into their own experience with questions, such as: What would your future clients look like? What would you want to change for business to be x10 as successful 10 years from now? What will you do today to make that your future reality?

Use right words and examples for your audience

Your influence will depend on whether your audience is able to receive your message. Always be authentic with your message and be sure to use language, metaphors and stories that speak directly to the people, so they can receive it, fully.

Manage your stress and nerves

If you stay in the stress response, you will reduce your capacity to connect. Breathing oxygen into your anxiety will transmute it into excitement. Get excited about influencing people positively and your energy will carry both you and your message forward.

Know it’s okay not to be liked by everyone

You’re not going up there to be liked. You’re up there to deliver a message about the possibilities that others may not see yet. Remember, it is ok not to be the best fit for everybody’s box.

Push yourself to break new ground

Inspiring others to break new ground is about having the ability to do so yourself. It is not easy to do this but leadership development is not a one size fits all methodology. Begin small by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone slightly. Before you know it you are are miles away from where you first started and have made an incredible leap forward.

Understand that your courage to speak up is the contribution

So many people are afraid to speak publicly. Your courage to speak up is a wonderful contribution to the people sitting in front of you. If you talk about positive possibilities, then every word you share is a contribution because it opens up their potential and their world.

“Developing people’s ability to talk and present authentically inspires me,” says Beate. “It’s all about showing them how wonderful they truly are, creating the space for them to experience their true self and to change their beliefs about themselves and what they can or cannot do from a new range of possibilities.”