We as human beings need emotions to connect to the work that we do. Especially if your job is to drive initiatives in a cross-functional org where you do not have direct powers to get the work done.
Here are three things to inspire(a.k.a enlist !) people to call for action.
1. Ethos: the source’s credibility, the speaker’s/author’s authority
2. Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.
3. Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.
Aristotle coined these terms to explain how rhetoric works:
“Of the modes of persuasion furnished by the spoken word there are three kinds. The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker [ethos]; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind [pathos]; the third on the proof, or apparent proof, provided by the words of the speech itself [logos]. Persuasion is achieved by the speaker’s personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible.”
https://growthcompanion.medium.com/ethos-pathos-logos-of-public-speaking-d15e3f6641cc
The leaders need to connect with the audience to drive their emotions for work. I am not talking about being emotional or sharing personal private facts at work to bring emotions, but from an internal bond or connect that the employee will have by virtue of the empathising and values (Heart) you share and the trust and credibility (Cred) that you have earned with them.
Credibility is earned when Heart and Head comes together. While you may have enough data/facts of why, you still need to reach-out to the inner- self of every individual for the call to action i.e where you have inspired them to do something. It’s different from how someone may get things done administratively by using their powers .Its an aspect beyond the logic of ‘why’ it’s the emotion of ‘why’ . If one were to apply 80:20 rule, its that 20% which make employees feel Inspired and empowered to do that work because it connects work with their values & purpose of life, empathises to their personal and professional needs. This in-turn helps to increase their motivation and belongingness to the purpose of their team/organisation.
Join our mailing list by signing up below to receive articles over email instantly! 