Today I want to share some characteristics of inspirational leaders along with a selection of quotes that appear in my first book, Presidential Leadership, and are relevant to everyone who desires to be an inspirational leader.
...Today, at the beginning of this new year, take a few moments for self reflection. Days, weeks, months, and years from now, what will others remember about how you made them feel? Your words and actions today will fade from memory. But the way those words and actions made others feel might last a lifetime.
...A subtle but very significant characteristic of highly successful people isn’t their ability to lead and control a conversation, but their ability to listen. Truly listen.
...Sometimes we’ve got something great that is worth hanging onto and fighting for. And sometimes what we have is good or ‘okay,’ but we should be willing to let it go in favor of something better. It takes flexibility, humility, and wisdom to know the difference.
...As a leader, you are a creator of opportunity for others! It is your privilege and responsibility to “open doors for people.” What doors will you open today?
...Every leader receives critique. Some leaders appreciate it, some dread it, and some resent it – but every good leader needs it. In order to truly achieve leadership excellence, you need to learn, grow, mature, develop, and improve as a leader, and one of the best tools for accomplishing this is critique.
...Inspirational leaders understand that confidence is just as vital for success as competence. As Andy Core writes, “Self-confidence is one of those intangible traits that encourages an employee to do their work well.” In other words, confidence in themselves and what they’re doing leads to greater competence.
...When done well and offered consistently, honest feedback is one of the most effective tools for facilitating growth and further empowering those you lead. So how do you deliver feedback, especially corrective feedback, in a positive and constructive way? Here are 9 best practices.
...By facilitating employees’ growth in their area of focus and expertise as well as complimentary areas, inspirational leaders empower them to achieve greater success—personally, professionally, and organizationally.
...Inspirational leaders understand that in order to truly empower others, they must first help them grow. They give those they lead the opportunity to leverage their talents and use their own skills and common sense to influence decisions, add value, and make a difference.
...Leading by example may seem like an overly simple (and endlessly repeated) concept. So much so that you likely haven’t spent much time thinking about it in recent years because you already know that leading by example is important. But is this age-old principle really overrated or too obvious to even warrant reflection?
...In order for leaders to inspire others with their vision for the future, they themselves must be inspired and passionate about it!
...Inspirational leaders must paint a vivid picture of the future in order to inspire those they lead to follow them toward that vision.
...Integrity is not just a personal virtue that leaders should exemplify—they must also hold those they lead, and their entire organization, to a standard of high integrity.
...Inspirational leaders realize the importance of investing in those they lead. They are willing to invest time and resources in order to have great team members—and thus great teams and organizations.
...To be able to respond well to the needs of others, you must first make sure you are functioning well yourself.
...Communication is a critical part of being responsive. Here are 3 tips for being responsive and achieving greater success when dealing with the needs and expectations of others.
...To be a person and a leader who truly inspires others, you must be disciplined and intentional in giving people priority. Respect their time and contributions by disconnecting from distractions and committing to be fully present whenever with them.
...It is an extremely simple concept, but also an extremely important strategy for achieving greater success: Treat everyone with respect. This is particularly essential for effective and inspirational leadership. Great leaders strive to be approachable by anyone, regardless of status or title. One key aspect of that is demonstrating respect toward everyone. A great first step is …
I believe it is far more effective to focus on your strengths than your weaknesses. Don’t aim for well rounded, aim for sharp! Then surround yourself with an excellent team of people (or group of friends) who shore up your weak spots and are sharp where you are blunt.
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