Page 178 - Appreciative Leadership

The Courage of Inspiration 151

Three stonemasons were busy working when a stranger wan-

dered by. Th e first stonemason was toting rocks to a pile, near a
wall. “What are you doing?” said the stranger.
The stonemason replied, “Can’t you see that I’m carrying

rocks?”

The stranger asked the second laborer, “What are you
doing?”
“I’m building a wall,” he replied.
A few steps away, the stranger came upon a third mason.
“What are you doing?” he asked.

This worker smiled. “I’m building a cathedral to the glory
of God!” 16

You can tell the difference between an enchanted, inspired work-
place and a disenchanted workplace by the language you hear. Inspi-
ration shows up along with words and feelings that describe positive
human experiences: awareness, ah-ha’s, beauty, epiphany, hope, won-
der, possibility, potential, and fun! Words create worlds. Th e habitual
language of business renders the creative spirit invisible. An artifact
of command-and-control leadership, it is intended to ensure order
rather than liberate creativity.
Read the following list of common business words: administra-
tion, memorandum, quarterly report, economic indicator, timeline, sales
quota, strategic plan, risk management, budget, and human resources.
How do they make you feel?
People are stimulated by the use of elevated language that speaks
to the whole person—mind, body, heart, and spirit. Poets and play-
wrights know this, and so do appreciative leaders. They use language,

words, and stories that resonate with the heart and open the mind: for
meaning making among people, as a vehicle for stimulating collective
wisdom, and for elevating collective consciousness.
Our research suggests that it takes love to create an inspired
workplace, to create an environment where people fl ourish. People