Are challenging economic times demanding higher levels of engagement with your customers and employees? Leadership and productivity experts agree that inspiration is desperately needed and yet it appears to be seemingly illusive. Perhaps, the illusive nature of inspiration is not for lack of its source but, rather, for lack of receptivity on our part.

Deborah Darlington, Chief Inspiration Officer of InspirationInProgress, believes that engagement is a two-way street. It is a dialogue that necessitates the exchange of thought and energy. Without a willingness to listen, the new voice of inspiration calls into the darkness.

Therefore, as a way to inspire people, passion and possibilities, Darlington asks her clients:

• WHO are you meeting with today that offers different perspectives on your business issues? If we always listen to the same voices, it will be difficult to hear the new one
• WHAT are you delegating that will enable you to take on new challenges and innovative processes? Sometimes we need to hand off before we can take on!
• WHERE are your passions growing these days? In a climate of turmoil, the need for reflection is even greater in order to re-prioritize. Don't let fear cause you to cling to the past
• HOW are you providing new opportunities for growth and engagement? As the saying goes -  "If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got."
• WHEN will you commit to not settling for less? Engagement demands commitment. Many people are interested; few are committed
• WHY not link your passions with the boundless possibilities for growth and success that are available? There's no time like the present for creating engaging experiences for you and your organization

Engagement begins by asking the right questions and opening the door to the possibilities that lie within you; if the door is already open, widen the entrance - just a bit! The more inspiration you bring, the more inspiring and engaging life will become!