Krazy George Henderson — so crazy he spelled “crazy” with a “k” — started a trend one afternoon. He was one of 60,000 fans in Oakland Coliseum cheering for the A’s, but with a twist: he brought a drum, and he looked a little, well, crazy. Cut-offs, sweatshirt, and a mop of hair that could have been styled by Albert Einstein, Krazy George roamed the stands, gathered the attention of everyone he could, told them what he wanted them to do, and led them to do the impossible. He persuaded individuals to form an undulating sea of movement from one side of the stadium all the way around to its starting point.

That’s right. Krazy George was the creator started of the Wave.

When you think about it, the Wave was all about passion, commitment, and connection. How you communicate your vision directly affects the outcome. What made the Wave such a forceful expression of human desire was the common passion to inspire the home team! That value lives larger than any individual and acts to unite everyone. No one followed Krazy George’s idea because they thought it was about him.

He was just the guy who enlisted everybody to do something a little crazy. They followed him because they liked the good-natured way he banged the drum. It didn’t require anything more than standing at the right time, raising your arms, and sitting back down. If you’ve ever taken part in a wave, you’ll probably agree; there’s a moment of anticipation as you see it move around the sections, and you’re poised like a surfer, waiting for just the right moment, so that the effect for everyone else viewing it is just right. It is as much a pleasure to watch as it is to participate in.

And, when it’s done, there is a lingering sense of euphoric unity, and you want to do it again! To start a wave that others want to participate in, you have to bang that drum like Krazy George to grab and hold their attention. You have to reach out to those around you, share a clear vision with them, and enlist them voluntarily to a common purpose. This has to be an invitation, not a threat or coercion; you have to be earnest and transparent, holding nothing back. Passion and commitment are fueled by enthusiasm and kept alive by an understanding that what you are doing is making a noticeable difference. It’s like that story about two guys doing masonry work. You ask one guy what he’s doing, and he might say, “Laying bricks.” You ask the next guy, and he replies, “I’m building a cathedral.”

If your team has too small a focus, if they’re just laying bricks day after day, or if they are not inspired by a bigger goal, there will be little movement. You will have choppy water in a small pond, at best. No enormous, exciting wave of momentum.

Bottom line is, unless you give your company inspiration, you will not receive enthusiasm. Passion alone does not trigger commitment. Inspiration ignites passion. If your team seems unfocused and uninspired, give them a clear vision of what lies just beyond your grasp. Ask for their help. Bang that drum. Start the movement.

Catch that wave… and watch it spread.

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