Get Curious

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Encourage Them To Dream Big

Many people need help imagining what’s possible before they commit to action.

Start by asking questions that invite them to think beyond the ordinary: “What would make this year extraordinary for you?” or “If anything were possible, what would you want to achieve?" Encourage them to dream without constraints, framing their ambitions as opportunities. As a leader, your role is to nurture their confidence in pursuing these possibilities by providing support and removing barriers.

Encourage your team to dare to imagine what they’re truly capable of achieving.

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Explore What They Desire

Your team’s aspirations are more than professional checkboxes.

Ask them: “What’s something you want to achieve that feels meaningful?” or “What skills do you want to develop this year that will get you to your next big goal?” Shift the conversation from deliverables to possibilities, focusing on individual growth. This is about creating a space where ambitions feel safe and supported.

Understanding your team requires uncovering their unspoken desires—the ambitions they hesitate to share but truly want to pursue.

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Visualize Possibilities

When your team can’t articulate their goals, help them envision a future they can get excited about.

Ask powerful questions like, “Imagine it’s the end of the year, and everything has exceeded your expectations—what possibilities unfolded to make that happen?” or “What kind of impact would you be proud to reflect on?” Guide them through scenarios that spark a sense of direction and possibility. With your support, their ambitions can become a clear and motivating vision.

Helping others see their future is the first step to building it.

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Insight

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Celebrate What Excites Them

Identifying what excites your team members fuels both personal fulfillment and higher performance.

Research from Gallup (2022) shows that employees who focus on their strengths and passions are 31% more productive and six times more likely to stay engaged at work. When you understand what energizes each individual, you can align their enthusiasm with high-impact goals. This creates a ripple effect, boosting overall team performance and satisfaction.

When you identify what excites your team, you help them find purpose in their work, which naturally leads to stronger engagement and meaningful contributions.

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Tie Goals to Purpose

Purpose fuels meaningful effort and creates a compelling reason to strive for excellence.

Research from Deloitte shows that workers who connect their tasks to a larger mission are three times more likely to stay engaged. When you understand what each team member finds meaningful and show how their efforts support both personal and organizational goals, you help your team find purpose. This alignment transforms their work into a mission, not a mandate.

A sense of purpose sustains engagement and fuels performance.

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Allow Goals to Evolve

Static goals can suffocate innovation.

Insights from Harvard Business School stress the value of dynamic, adaptable objectives. Encourage your team to revisit goals quarterly and adjust based on new challenges or insights. This flexibility keeps their aspirations relevant and achievable.

When goals adapt to changing circumstances, they encourage creativity and lasting progress.

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Action

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Lead Vision Sessions

One-on-ones should inspire clarity and ambition.

Ask provocative questions: “What would make this year the most rewarding one yet?” or “What’s a bold goal you’re hesitant to say out loud?” Use these conversations to uncover what truly matters to them and why. Don’t just act on their responses—connect them to opportunities that challenge and excite.

By helping them articulate and pursue bold aspirations, you build a foundation for meaningful growth.

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Align The Team

Meetings can reveal how individual goals strengthen the team’s mission.

Start by inviting team members to share one personal ambition they’re excited to achieve this year. Then, explore how these align with broader team or organizational objectives, asking, “How can we support this while advancing our shared goals?” This approach creates a bridge between individual motivation and collective progress, building both connection and accountability. Close the meeting with actionable steps that honor both personal and team aspirations.

When personal goals and team objectives align, the result is shared momentum.

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Celebrate Progress

Recognizing progress toward personal goals creates a deeper sense of purpose.

When team members see their individual growth acknowledged, it reinforces that their aspirations matter. Research from Gallup (2022) shows that celebrating personal development boosts engagement and long-term motivation. Share stories of how their efforts have contributed to their personal goals and how those goals align with the team’s broader mission.

Celebrating growth builds both confidence and connection.

Thank you for joining me this week. Remember: When leaders create space for personal aspirations to thrive, they unlock a level of engagement that drives meaningful impact for everyone involved. Feel free to forward this to someone who might benefit from it.

Here’s to leading with intention and curiosity!

Cheers,

Del

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