The quality of leadership within a business or organization is often a factor in its success. In today’s ever evolving landscape leadership is no more an authority or a decision-making. Leader needs to be inspirational and someone who can motivate the team by bring out their best selves to the table. Inspirational leadership traits help in bringing profound shift from traditional management approaches.
When you’re looking to level up in your career, becoming an inspirational leader is a smart move. Getting a positional respect or simply holding a leadership title is not what makes a leader inspirational or guarantee effective leadership. The best leaders aim to inspire their team toward achieving personal and professional success and create a culture of motivation in their workplace.
Under the right leadership, a company can not only survive but thrive.
Inspirational leadership definition
Inspirational leadership is the ability to motivate and influence those around you. Irrespective of your position, there are ways that you can have a positive impact on your team. Inspirational leadership offers opportunities for team to develop and grow. What makes a leader inspirational is the right attitude.
Inspirational leadership benefits
Inspirational leaders can empower others to develop a passion for their work and how they accomplish it. They often invest in developing the talent of those around them and can help a business flourish by demonstrating their commitment to their work and values. There are multiple benefits of inspirational leadership, including:
Achieving goals
One of the major benefit of inspirational leadership is they help to meet and exceed goals. Inspirational leaders align their work with the values of their team. They also encourage other to set ambitious goals and help in accomplishing them.
Increased engagement
Inspirational leaders promote a clear sense of purpose to their team that helps each individual find more value in their work. By practicing inspirational leadership, you can increase overall engagement among your colleagues.
Inspire commitment
When a leader has strong work ethic, they make employees aspire to have the same level of commitment. Inspirational leadership plays a very important role in making employees commit to a company.
Motivational
One of the key leadership qualities for success is being motivational. The environment plays a very important part in making or breaking a team. Having a positive attitude can directly influence people around you.
Inspirational leader traits
The traits of inspirational leader that can help to reap a whole range of rewards when one starts embodying the attitude of inspirational leadership. Inspirational leaders not only direct their team toward exceeding their goals but motivate each team member toward their own personal best. They often accomplish this by modeling the skills, traits and attitudes that they want the employees to demonstrate. Here are some traits of an inspirational leader:
Positive attitude
A positive attitude increases the office moral. For an inspirational leader positivity can be a powerful motivator in a team environment.
Appreciation
Thank you plays an important part if you want employees to repeat successful behaviors. By showing gratitude and appreciation leaders can inspire others to continue utilizing their talents.
Passionate
To be an inspirational leader one needs to have a passion for the work they do and the people they work with. Genuinely caring about company’s mission and the well-being of team helps to model passion to which others can aspire.
Integrity
Integrity can create a trusting environment that inspires others to uphold similar values. Integrity is non-negotiable for inspirational leaders as their high ethical standards and values serve as beacons of trust and respect.
Vision
Inspirational leaders are known for possessing a clear and compelling vision of the future. This vision becomes a guiding star, inspiring everyone to pursue a common mission, and instilling purpose into their daily endeavors.
Communication
Effective communication lies at the heart of inspirational leadership. They convey their vision effectively and persuasively, utilizing words, actions, and emotions. Additionally, they are also active listeners who attentively engage with others to provide feedback and recognition creating an honest environment.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a hallmark of inspirational leadership as they have a deep understanding of human emotions and needs. Empathetic leader contributes to an atmosphere where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued.
How to develop inspirational leadership skills
Some leaders may seem to have a natural talent for inspiring others, but there are many ways to develop your skills as an inspirational leader.
Here are steps to help you develop your inspirational leadership skills:
Get to know your team
People tend to appreciate it when others take the time to get to know them, especially in the workplace. By learning about what your teammates value and how they work best, you can find unique ways to inspire them. Different things inspire different people, and understanding the individual personalities on your team may help you adjust your leadership style when working with others. When people feel understood, they may be more open to inspiration and guidance.
Develop core values
In order to inspire a team, have a reason for the work you do and guidelines for completing that work. Developing core values and practicing them daily can show your team that their work can drive positive change in their life and community. When determining your core values, consider what’s most important to your team in their work and their personal life.
Develop trust
By building trust with your coworkers, you can build relationships that support growth on an individual and team level. If an employee or colleague feels they can trust you, they may be more likely to accept advice and guidance. An inspirational leader makes an impact by mentoring others, and trust is necessary for them to thrive. Trust between coworkers shows they can support one another through challenges and successes with their team’s best interests in mind.
Offer support
Inspirational leaders readily offer support to others before being asked. Offering support can help to build a sense of community and encourage others to take on more ambitious tasks. By making resources readily available to others, you can inspire them to take risks and actively pursue their professional development.
Take responsibility
Taking responsibility for your shortcomings shows humility and teachability that may inspire others. Especially for those in a managerial role, your willingness to accept shortcomings and make improvements encourages others to do the same. This strategy also displays dedication and loyalty to your team by prioritizing collective success over personal reputation.
Praise success
Just as inspirational leaders take responsibility for setbacks on a team, they also recognize the successes of their team. Great leaders don’t claim all the credit for a project to earn the respect of others, and can in fact motivate their team more by sharing praise. Recognizing when an employee is doing well and being specific in your positive feedback provides motivation and feelings of pride.
How to practice inspirational leadership
Whether you’re in upper management or new to a company, there has never been a better time to improve your inspirational leadership skills. Here are some approaches you can take.
Authenticity
Trying to be someone that you are not would not get you far. For being an inspirational leader, one needs to be real with the people around you.
Know the team
One of the important aspect of being an inspirational leader is understanding employees or colleagues. Knowing about their job, long-term goals and what gives them satisfaction in the role is what makes a leader inspirational.
Communication
For any relationship to work communication is the key. Working on the communication skills is one of the most effective ways to become a good leader.
Passionate
Inspirational leaders are passionate about their work. An inspirational leader motivates others and leads by example.
For being an inspirational leader one needs to embark on a path of self-discovery, continuous growth, and unwavering commitment to those you lead. They help in elevating the potential of every individual within their sphere. What makes a leader inspirational is the ability to change the lives they touch.
