The 7 Secrets of Inspiring Leaders

Very few people look forward to going to work.  And no, providing free coffee and fruit in the company kitchen isn’t going to change their minds.  It’s a sad observation about the state of all around the world business today. One-third of U.S employees are so unhappy they are thinking of leaving their jobs.  Let me ask you – how is it possible that unhappy, unmotivated and disengaged employees could possibly offer exceptional customer service or develop exciting, innovative products that move your brand forward?  They can’t.  That’s why it is up to you as leader to satisfy what Emerson called a person’s “chief want:” someone who will inspire us to be what we know we can be.

Ignite Your Enthusiasm.  You cannot inspire, she said, unless you’re inspired yourself.  Every inspiring leader is abundantly passionate—not about the product itself, but what the product means to their customers.  Steve Jobs is not passionate about computers. He’s passionate about building tools that help people to unleash their personal creativity.  Big difference.

Navigate a course of action. Nothing extraordinary ever happened without a leader articulating a vision, a course of action.  We’ve seen this throughout history (think John F. Kennedy challenging a nation to land a man on the moon) and it works for building brands as well. Bold visions create excitement and inspire evangelists.

Sell the benefit. Your employees don’t care about growing sales by 10 percent this year.  That’s a goal—or a result—of achieving a vision.  But it’s not inspiring.  A CEO of a major retailer said that his “goal” was to double his company’s stock price in one year—a goal most people thought was impossible to achieve.  He did it with the enthusiastic help of his employees who bought in to the plan.  They did so because in every conversation he talked about what it would mean to them – job security, stability, new flex time policies, more day-care for working mothers, etc..  Your employees are asking one question, “What’s in it for me?” Don’t leave them guessing.

Paint a picture. Our brains are programmed more for stories than for abstract ideas.  Stories can include the real stories of how your products are improving the lives of your customers.  Stories can also include personal anecdotes, helping to establish a closer connection between leaders and teams.  Stories make connections.  Tell more of them.

Invite participation. Google Vice President Marissa Mayer said that she keeps a sign-up sheet outside her door for “office hours” that are held each day at 4:00 p.m.  She gives team members 15 minutes to voice their opinions or pitch new ideas.  People want more than a paycheck.  They want to create meaning.  Invite them in.

Reinforce optimism. Great leaders are more optimistic than average. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell once said, “Optimism is a force multiplier.”  He also said that optimism was the “secret” behind President Ronald Reagan’s charisma.  Never before in the history of civilization have we had access to such a wealth of ideas, resources and opportunities.  Spread the word.

Encourage potential.