The Coaching Trek Inspiring Those You Lead March 2002 The most effective form of leadership occurs when an individual or team of leaders inspire those they lead. Inspirational leadership is the purest expression of leadership because it creates within the follower an intrinsic motivation. And intrinsic motivation happens when people’s work is connected with their purpose. The following five principles help leaders become inspirational leaders, no matter the leadership style. 1. Inspirational Leaders Extend Hope. Times of plenty are not where leaders are shaped, but rather during times of difficulty. Especially during trials, interpret the negative behaviors graciously, giving the benefit of the doubt to those you lead. Then choose the hopeful comment. 2. Inspirational Leaders Are Students of “Languages.” How we communicate erodes or builds leadership. And if there is one thing a leader learns early on, there are almost as many languages as there are people. Become a lifelong learner of different communication styles. Study gesture, listen behind the words to hear the heart, and of course, adjust your own communication accordingly. 3. Inspirational Leaders Develop & Clarify Vision. By regularly communicating about the vision in both informal and formal settings, the inspirational leader learns to make the vision accessible to every member of the organization. Remember the 10X rule: only after ten meaningful communications of the vision will a person begin to think of the vision as his own. 4. Inspirational Leaders Laugh Often. And not only because it is medicine for the soul. Secure and gifted leaders never lose their sense of humor. Laughter, the kind that does not leave anyone on the outside, affects the atmosphere of the organization, and increases a leader’s equity with individuals and teams within the organization. 5. Inspirational leaders work as hard as anyone-- but never point it out to those they lead. When the those who follow you know that they pay a higher price for the organization, the leader will never earn the equity which is needed in the "moment of truth," those keys times when the organization rises or falls. At the same time, the leader must instill in his or her followers a sense of deep appreciation for their hard work. This is called servant leadership-- the positions are not for the sake of the leader, but for the benefit of everyone in the organization. 6. Inspirational Leaders Build on Failures. To build on a failure you must first be able to admit the failure, then step back far enough to look at it objectively. At this time, hear what trusted advisors say, and “reinterpret” what adversaries say by hearing not the emotions but the perspective. Leaders are failures at some time in their lives, and these experiences of temporary failure become the building blocks of leadership. A man I respect very much once said, "I only trust leaders who walk with a limp." 7. Inspirational leaders are focused primarily on the greatest leadership challenge-- in the leading of himself or herself. The greatest challenge that a leader faces is the challenge of leading himself. When a leader faithfully cares for his own personal and professional growth, and invests time and resources to continually grow, others are inspired toward their own growth. The result? Courageous leaders and followers, working together for the benefit of each and the organization. "Inspire"
literally means "to stimulate to creativity and action,"
"to arouse and bring about," and "to breathe life
into." What leader wouldn't want to lead inspired employees, family members, teammates, fellow leaders, community members? |