The Power of Inspiration
Typically, when one hears the Shakespeare Quote, “A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet”, they would believe it to be true. Inspiration, on the other hand, is not so straightforward. So let’s start with this:
- What does the word Inspiration mean, anyway?
- How do you define it?
Sure, it is easy to read the definition in a dictionary, but does Inspiration mean the same thing to everyone?
Is there such thing as bad inspiration? Does that even exist?
This video clip, which I have written about before (thanks to @TomKreglstein!) speaks volumes to what Inspiration done right truly is…
These three quotes by Simon Sinek are at the core of Inspirational Leadership:
- “If you hire people because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money, but if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll will work for you with blood and sweat and tears.”
- “People don’t buy what you do, people buy why you do it.”
- “If you talk about what you believe, you will attract those who believe what you believe.”
- Knowing all of this, I went to Twitter to see what professionals and students thought Inspiration means to them…
It seems like everyone may have a different definition of what Inspiration means, but some common themes shine through:
- Motivation.
- Reflection.
- Taking Action.
- Providing Hope.
- Confidence.
- Inclusion.
- Being a Role Model.
With the absence of these traits, a leader can not be inspirational. True leadership results in the inspiration of others through the empowerment of colleagues, peers, and employees to become motivated; to become more self-aware; to take action; to create hope; to provide confidence; to be inclusive; and to act as a role model.
If a leader can inspire others to act, to serve, or to make a difference in the lives of others, they are an inspirational leader. On the other hand, if a leader can only create apathy, gossip, and mistrust, they are simply not living up to their potential, and doing harm to their “followers”. Perhaps that “uninspirational” leader is simply unaware, or maybe just naive. What ever the case, leaders MUST inspire others, for that is the only way to create a culture that sustains itself.
What are your thoughts?
What does inspirational leadership mean to you?
What am I missing in this post that is reflective of an inspirational leader?
