My first book, Presidential Leadership, is a testament to my long-held belief in the power and importance of inspirational leadership.
There is no motivating factor as powerful as true inspiration. As I wrote in chapter 5 of my book,
“While reward-based or fear-based motivation yields limited results, inspiration is longer lasting, more deeply rooted, and internally driven rather than externally driven.”
Because of this, I believe strongly in the power, importance, and effectiveness of inspirational leadership:
“Inspiring leaders are able to stir the hearts and minds of their followers, compelling them to action with greater loyalty and enthusiasm than achieved by any other sort of motivator.”
John F. Kennedy has long been regarded as a truly inspiring leader. Not only was he an eloquent and articulate public speaker, he also possessed an incredible ability to cast a vision and express concepts that resonated in the hearts and minds of people around the world.
No matter political preference or opinion, it can’t be denied that America’s 35th President was able to inspire millions of people in a way that few leaders in history have. Kennedy didn’t just stir up excitement with showy words and political promises. He challenged the American status quo and called upon all Americans to take personal responsibility for the future of their nation.
Upon accepting the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1960, Kennedy said, “The New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises—it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them.” Those words were followed months later during the new president’s inaugural address with a similar sentiment when Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country!”
Like Kennedy, truly inspirational leaders don’t merely make their followers feel good and stir up temporary excitement; they inspire them to take action.
How about you, do you inspire those whom you lead?
