5 Attributes of Inspirational Leaders

5 Attributes of Inspirational Leaders
By Dr. John C. Maxwell
The Sahara plays tricks on the eyes of its travelers. As the desert sun beats down on the sand, heat waves
rise from the ground. Light bends as it passes through the superheated air, painting illusory pictures on
the horizon. To thirsty travelers moving through the Sahara, it often appears as if an oasis looms in the
distance. However, as the voyagers journey on, the oasis proves to be nothing more than a mirage.
Unfortunately, the ranks of leadership are inhabited by a host of mirages: people who look impressive
from a distance, but end up being disappointments. After being fooled by a few mirages, followers
become jaded about leadership. That seems as true now as it ever has been. Our trust in leaders has been
shaken as politicians have reneged on promises, CEOs have squandered money entrusted to their firms,
and managers have advanced self-interests above all else.
To restore society's confidence with those in power, leaders have to be able to inspire. I'm not talking
about inspiring someone to buy into the corporate vision statement, to meet quarterly sales goals, or to
work more efficiently. These aren't bad things, but right now, people are looking for a leader attuned to
their personal needs. They want leaders who will encourage them, believe in their potential, and help
them grow.
5 Attributes of an Inspirational Leader
ATTITUDE OF SERVICE
To be an inspirational leader, you must adopt an attitude of service toward those you lead. This requires
laying aside selfish interests to add value to another person. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "An
individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns
to the broader concerns of all humanity." When you serve, you awaken something magnetic inside of you.
People are drawn to follow you because they know you'll find ways to make them better.
AFFIRMATION
To inspire means to have a positive view of others. If we're not careful, we become fault-finders,
magnifying the flaws in everyone around us. Instead, leaders should emulate gold prospectors - always on
the lookout for potential gold mines. When they find traces of ore, prospectors assume there's a rich vein
to unearth, and they start digging. In the same fashion, leaders ought to search for the best traits within a
person and commit to uncovering them.
One of the best applications of this idea is expressed in what I call the 101 percent principle: Find the one
thing that you believe is a person's greatest asset, and then give 100 percent encouragement in that area.
Focusing on a person's strengths inspires them by promoting confidence, growth, and success.
ATTENTIVENESS
Great inspirers know the desires of those they lead. As much as people respect the knowledge and ability
of their leaders, these are secondary concerns for them. They don't care how much their leaders know
until they know how much their leaders care. When leaders attend to the deeply felt needs of their team,
the determination and commitment of each team member skyrockets.
AVAILABILITY
Leaders inspire by intentionally investing time in the people they lead. They make themselves available.
People cannot be nurtured from a distance or by infrequent spurts of attention. They need a leader to
spend time with them - planned time, not just a conversation in passing.
In our fast-paced and demanding world, time is a leader's most precious commodity. While it feels costly
to give up, nothing communicates that you value a person more than the gift of your time. In addition,
investing time to develop others has a way of reaping dividends. As Ralph Waldo Emerson remarked, "It is
one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without
helping himself."
AUTHENTICITY
To inspire, leaders have to be genuine. More than anything else, followers want to believe in and trust
their leaders. However, when leaders break promises or fail to honor commitments, they reveal
themselves as being inauthentic, and they lose credibility. Trust rests upon a foundation of authenticity.
To gain trust, a leader must consistently align words and deeds, while showing a degree of transparency.
Summary
Inspirational leadership can be confused with momentary charisma. I prefer to think about inspiring as
more of a process than an event. More than a brilliant speech, it's cultivating habits of brilliance that
manifest themselves daily. By modeling the five attributes of an inspiring leader, I trust that you'll win the
respect of those you lead and earn the right to influence them.
Copyright 2011 The John Maxwell Company. Articles accessed via http://www.johnmaxwell.com may not
be reprinted or reproduced without written permission from The John Maxwell Company, except for brief quotations in critical
reviews or articles.

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5 Attributes of Inspirational Leaders

By Dr. John C. Maxwell

5 Attributes of an Inspirational Leader

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