The Inspirational Leader by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC

The best leaders do more than lead their people; they inspire them to grow, develop and reach potential they never believed they had. Yet, many leaders who are quite adept at leading and directing their employees never quite reach the level of inspiring people. There are several key differences between those who lead and those who inspire.

1. Inspirational leaders have failures that they don’t hide. The most accomplished people are often those who have had the most to overcome. They inspire people by using those obstacles to demonstrate that nothing is impossible, and that those who have struggles are often the most likely to excel.
2. Inspirational leaders have passion. These are people who have lifelong enthusiasm for their pursuit: whatever that pursuit might be. These people work and live with a fire that provides constant fuel. They have vision for the future and energy to continue moving toward their vision. They simply cannot envision life without their life’s work or pursuit.
3. Inspirational leaders never give up. In addition to having passion and direction, they also have persistence. It is this persistence that has allowed them to overcome their struggles and failures to move toward success.
4. Inspirational leaders know that they will reach their goals. One of the most impressive traits among those who have proven to inspire others is their unfailing confidence in their ability to achieve their goals. This belief is not arrogance, but rather a confidence that is deeply rooted.
5. Inspirational leaders want to help others achieve their own success. Those who are truly inspirational are not satisfied to rest on their own success. They gain further passion and fuel from helping others to achieve their own dreams. In fact, many of the most inspirational people report the greatest satisfaction in their life has come from helping others to excel, rather than from reaching their own goals.

Many of the most inspirational people seem to have been born with the ability to inspire. However, the traits that help these people become recognized as leaders come to people who never perceived themselves as inspirational, once those people found their own personal passion. The real capability to be an inspiration to others comes from finding your own life’s pursuit and from sharing the ups and downs of that pursuit with others in order to help them reach their own goals and dreams.