The magic of a shared dream
Sharing your highest goals and aspirations feels good, it is self-motivating. It also inspires action. Before you can share that dream, you have to look inside yourself and discover it. What is your dream? What inspires and motivates you?
Your self-discovery is the first step. In Martin Luther King’s famous speech, he spoke for his community and his race, but he spoke of his own dreams. That personal, poignant expression was easy for others to understand. They felt his pain, they shared his dream.
He was leading a nonprofit. His speech that day was transformational for his organization Southern Christian Leadership Conference. But he wasn’t there to ask for money. He came to inspire. He shared his dream.
You have dreams to share.
Your organization will benefit from your dreams. As others hear them, they will respond. Your words hold the power to connect with people. You, no matter your public speaking skill level or role in the organization, are able to connect and inspire your audience. That results in motivated employees, active volunteers, and generous donors.
Your dreams are their dreams.
The Stanford Social Innovation Review calls this communication aspirational. Expressing your aspirations, inspires others. In the article, Aspiration: A Tool for Transformational Change, Doug Hattaway and Tess Hart write:
…That’s the power of aspirational communication, which aims to motivate people to support causes by appealing to the hopes and values that give meaning to their lives. Too many nonprofits set uninspiring goals and articulate them in bland “nonprofit speak.” To tap into the power of aspiration, you need to understand people’s hopes, set goals that speak to those aspirations, and communicate them in simple but powerful language.
Your dreams inspire YOU and everyone who hears them. Hearing dreams and aspirations sparks a connection. Think about how it feels when you hear an inspiring speaker. Your ears perk up, you pay attention. You mentally sign up for more. That’s the power you have.
Share your dreams. Lift yourself up and take others along with you.