
Discovering the Power of ‘Why’ in Creative Teams
As a 10-year-old, I made a name for myself by creating the best mix-tapes, recording songs from radio stations and combining them onto cassettes. Telling a bigger story through music and managing smooth transitions with a clunky tape player led to many friendships and conversations that were quite mature for my age. I quickly realized that I genuinely enjoyed connecting with like-minded creative individuals who recognized the deeper reasons behind my track selections and transitions, rather than simply dancing away to my cassettes. As the years passed, understanding and being understood by creative minds became second nature to me.
Unpacking Your Personal ‘Why’
This natural connection became apparent when I met Anthony, a furniture rep with a computer problem. Without him saying much, I could feel his frustration and understand what he wanted, and I was able to deliver a solution. From there, I expanded my reach, and through trial and error, I discovered that I was happiest when helping creative teams of 5 to 50. These teams often had a vision for how they wanted their technology to support them but lacked the words to describe it. Fortunately, I could relate to them through our unspoken language, making it easy to understand and address their needs.
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Take a quiet moment with your favorite beverage and reflect on the highlights of your past projects. Create two columns: one listing the projects that shone like bright stars and another for those you had to drag across the finish line.
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Understanding your personal “why” is the foundation for driving your passion and purpose. When you take the time to uncover what truly inspires you, it becomes easier to make decisions and take actions that align with your core values.
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By focusing on your “why,” you can create a roadmap that guides you towards projects and opportunities that ignite your enthusiasm and allow you to shine. Embrace the power of your “why,” and let it be the compass that guides you towards a more inspiring and purposeful future.
Unpacking Your Team’s ‘Why’
Understanding what inspires your team members is crucial for creating a productive and fulfilling work environment. One of our team members excelled at providing remote support but struggled with onsite visits, delivering less-than-stellar results. After failing to see improvement, I realized I needed to have an honest discussion about what inspired them about their work.
During a quick 30-minute one-on-one, I discovered that this team member was ready, willing, and excited to take ownership of some of our biggest projects where help was needed. By providing them with opportunities to shine in areas that aligned with their interests and strengths, I could free up resources from those projects to invest in someone else who enjoyed driving to clients.
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When you provide your team with a variety of opportunities to discover where they show the most interest and take ownership, you’ll often find that they deliver results beyond your expectations.
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Align their responsibilities with their passions to get the best out of your team and keep them happy and engaged in the long term. In today’s world, job satisfaction isn’t just about money; it’s about finding purpose and fulfillment in the work we do.
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The key to unlocking your team’s potential lies in understanding their individual “why” and creating an environment that nurtures their growth and inspiration. Take the time to have honest conversations, listen to their aspirations, and provide them with the opportunities they need to shine.
Unpacking Your Client’s ‘Why’
Many years back, a client reached out for help with his audio setup. He had hired a carpenter to build a shelf for his impressive collection of over 10,000 CDs and asked me to set him up with a CD changer that could rotate 5 CDs at a time. His goal was to swap CDs twice a day and have music playing continuously. When I asked him a few questions, he revealed that he simply wanted to enjoy his music collection without the hassle of constantly getting up to change CDs. He had invested a significant amount of money in these CDs but found himself too lazy to put them on and listen to them regularly.
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People often bury their true desires and frustrations, believing they can’t have what they really want, that it’s too much to ask, or that it would require a substantial investment. As a result, they come up with solutions that seem attainable to them and present those ideas to you.
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As an expert in your field, you have the ability to see possibilities that your clients may not be aware of. By asking the right questions and uncovering their root desires, you can introduce innovative solutions that exceed their expectations.
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One of my favorite quotes, by Tony Robbins, encapsulates this idea perfectly: “The quality of your life is a direct reflection of the quality of the questions you are asking yourself.” By focusing on improving the simplicity and quality of your questions, especially during initial meetings, you can uncover your clients’ deeper motivations and pain points.
In Conclusion
Understanding the “why” is the key to unlocking true success and fulfillment in every aspect of your business and your life. Whether it’s your own inner drive, the passions that fuel your team, or the deep-seated desires of your clients, taking a moment to dig deeper and ask meaningful questions can lead to incredible breakthroughs.
When you connect with your own “why,” you’ll find yourself on a path of continuous growth and improvement, honing your skills and seizing opportunities that truly resonate with your purpose.
By taking the time to uncover and nurture your team members’ “why,” you’ll create an environment where they can thrive, bringing their best selves to work and delivering exceptional results for your clients.
And when you make the effort to understand your clients’ “why,” you’ll forge deeper connections and gain the insights needed to craft solutions that not only meet their needs but exceed their wildest dreams.
Remember, the power of “why” lies in its ability to illuminate the purpose, vision, passion, and desire that are at the heart of every endeavor. So go ahead and make “why” a regular part of your daily conversations. Ask yourself, your team, and your clients those thought-provoking questions, and don’t be afraid to share the fascinating insights you uncover along the way.
I can’t wait to hear about all the discoveries and success stories that come your way.