If you’ve ever worked for an inspirational leader, you know what a big deal it is. Inspirational leaders motivate, engage and lift the people around them. And while some people may believe that leadership is inborn, there are also ways you can intentionally develop yourself as an inspirational leader.
Leading well is especially important today because leaders are under increasing pressure—to get results, sustain strategies and to nurture people. At the same time, leaders unfortunately lack confidence in themselves, based on an Accenture survey. And trust in leaders is plummeting globally—with 61% who lack trust, according to a global survey by Edelman.
But even with the pressure and the challenges, leaders can make a positive difference in people’s work experience.
What Is an Inspirational Leader?
Depending on your perspectives, there are plenty of ways to characterize great leadership—from transformational leadership or servant leadership to change leadership, empathetic leadership and more.
- For example, charismatic leadership is based on empathy, listening skills, eye contact, enthusiasm, self-confidence and skillful speaking—and it can be learned, according to research published in Communication Monographs.
- In another example, transformational leadership is based on qualities such as establishing common goals, providing intellectual stimulation, giving positive feedback—resulting in greater employee wellbeing, according to a study by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Each type of leadership has their strengths—and many overlap with each other. But inspirational leadership is an especially useful concept.
Inspirational leaders motivate and engage people. And they’re also able to energize employees and encourage them. These leaders stimulate others to look forward and to take a future orientation. And they are especially good at getting people to think creatively about their work, their contributions, their careers and the organization.
Ultimately, inspirational leaders motivate people to believe—in the future, in themselves and in the community—and to invest as a result.
Great leaders, including those who are inspirational, are the leaders people would choose to work with even without formal role, title or hierarchy.
Becoming an Inspirational Leader
Great leaders are always growing and responding to context and challenges—so it’s wise to think about how you’re continually becoming an inspirational leader—rather than how you achieve the static result of achieving inspirational leadership.
Here’s where to focus.
1. Believe in the Future
One of the primary elements that motivates people, teams and organizations is a shared sense of purpose. People want to work toward a motivating vision and mission, and they want strong direction from leaders. In fact, organizations with a strong sense of purpose out-perform those without it.
All of this is forward leaning and future focused. In a world that is especially volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, leaders who can point to the destination ahead are those whom people prefer.
Inspirational leaders clarify the context and the challenges, but then also articulate where the organization is going and why it’s important. They make choices about where the organization will focus (and where it won’t) so people can shape their own efforts toward the unified direction.
And great leaders ensure people have line of sight—so they clearly see how their work affects the work of teammates and those who benefit from the work of the organization as a whole. Inspirational leaders personalize the work, so people can see how they matter uniquely to the bigger picture.
Leadership is fundamentally optimistic and hopeful, because you’re describing a future that you believe matters and galvanizing people toward common goals to accomplish it—believing in the future.
2. Believe in People
Another element of inspirational leadership is believing in the people on the team and providing meaningful work and opportunities for growth and development—reinforcing their belief in themselves.
Inspirational leaders foster a growth mindset in individuals, teams and organizations, ensuring that people know they can always learn more and improve. With a growth mindset, failures or setbacks aren’t indicators of too little capability or smarts. Instead, they are signals of where to work harder, improve or solve problems.
Inspirational leaders ensure they’re tuned into team members and they demonstrate empathy. They support wellbeing at the same time they hold people accountable and let people know how important the people are to the organization’s success. Great leaders provide psychological safety that empowers employees to take appropriate risks and challenge themselves. And then they back people up and provide feedback and coaching.
They support people’s performance with clear expectations, smart processes, tools and technology and well-designed work experiences. And they support team members’ ability to express autonomy, set boundaries and live their lives outside of work as well.
Inspirational leaders ensure people are always learning and leaning into the next opportunity that interests them—with fair pay, promotions and rewards.
3. Believe in the Community
Inspirational leaders also act in a way that builds relationships, connections and trust. They are authentic and easy to read. Their actions are aligned with their words. These leaders are also transparent.
One of the primary ways leaders build trust is by being both present and accessible. In a world where people are distracted and detached, leaders who are fully present with others in the moment engender trust.
In addition, inspirational leaders are predictable. In the face of overwhelm and polarized viewpoints, leaders often become sources of continuity and a centers of gravity—and this provides stability and consistency that people crave.
4. Believe in Yourself
Inspirational leaders also believe in themselves, demonstrating both professional courage and intellectual humility.
These leaders are firm and clear in standing up for what they believe, their values and the values of the organization. They also stand with people who need support. And they know when to stand down as well—when to let go or move on from strategies or tactics that no longer serve them.
Inspirational leaders also demonstrate intellectual humility. They are self-aware and humble, admitting mistakes. In fact, when leaders were more critical of themselves than others, they tended to be rated as better leaders, according to a study published in the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies.
Inspirational leaders balance confidence with an openness to others’ perspectives. They know they don’t have all the answers. They step forward when they’re the expert, but they rely on others who also have critical knowledge. They ask questions and stay curious. And they are always learning.
The Importance of Inspirational Leaders
Inspirational leadership is especially important today and you can have a significant positive effect on the people you lead. You’ll never be a perfect leader, but people appreciate effort and progress—and your commitment to learning and improving.
When you motivate people about the future, about their role in it and about the community they’re part of, they’ll be able to bring their best as well.