Now more than ever the world needs inspirational leaders at work. Why? One third of U.S. employees are unhappy with their jobs and are planning to leave. Very few people are eager to go to work. Disengaged employees are looking for a leader that will inspire them into action.

The core characteristic of an inspirational leader is that they lead with a strong and sensitive purpose and with a deep passion for the mission. They have a desire to serve and empower others. They inspire themselves – and others. Inspirational leaders do not use a process, nor a technique. They lead with the heart and the soul – and consider the heart and soul of others. The research proves that motivating and inspiring others increases employee engagement.

To inspire employees, the leader must have the ability to blend all of these elements together with a genuine spirit:

Being authentic

How true are you to your own personality, spirit, and character despite pressures from the material world? People will be able to tell if you are pretending to be someone else and will question everything about you. Showcase your strengths and personality traits. If you love to tell jokes, tell jokes. Are you reading from a script or are you speaking from the heart? Be natural. Be authentic.

Earn trust

Trust is an essential ingredient in increasing engagement. Employees are more loyal and enthusiastic when they work in an environment with people they trust. Building trust does not happen because you say you are trustworthy or you have a suggestion box outside of your door. Inspirational leaders have the very simple belief that people are trustworthy. So trust your employees to do the work. Remember, you build trust by trusting others.

Hakuna matata

This Swahili phrase simply means “no worries.” Inspirational leaders do not reprimand in anger when an employee makes a mistake. They calmly explain the situation, discuss the behavior requiring correction, and communicate expectations for the future. When people know you are not going to yell at them and you have their best interests at heart, they are going to trust you. Regularly discuss their careers. Take an interest in their hobbies. Discover something they do outside of work that is of importance to them. It could be teaching people how to ride a motorcycle on the weekends. Slow down and take the time to show employees you genuinely care about them.

Coaching

Giving and receiving feedback on a regular basis inspires employees into action. Do not wait to discuss progress at evaluation time. Inspirational leaders actively listen on a regular basis to their employee needs. They orchestrate learning opportunities, have a plethora of solutions, and provide quiet guidance. Coaching and counseling are interrelated. Those that inspire have the ability to shift from a counseling mode to resolve an issue before moving into a coaching role. They speak with confidence and with an encouraging tone. Employees are hungry for encouragement, advice, and positive role models. Remember, people are your most important asset – and so is listening.

Work alignment

Inspirational leaders regularly communicate with their employees with regard to the connection between their work and the success of the organization. As a leader, it is important to genuinely reflect on the connection between the employee’s work and the organization’s vision, mission, and brand. Employees desire to know how their work contributes to the success of the organization. The inspiration comes from the fire within the leader – a passion for the products and services – a passion for the organization – a passion for the person – a passion for the team. When an employee believes that their work is meaningful, the team’s performance and engagement are ignited. Organizational Vision + Employee’s Contribution = Success

Inclusion

Inspirational leaders know that everyone on their team has strengths. They create processes for building on those strengths. The leader works with the employee to further develop the strengths in order to create a stronger team. Now the entire team is inspired to share the team’s development and success. They encourage others to develop because they rely on one another. The inspirational leader trusts the team to share in bringing out the best in people. The team also has a philosophy of a fair work environment and operates with discipline and order. Everyone is aware of the expectations. Transparency + Collaboration = Inclusion.

Earn Credibility

What people say about you does matter. Inspirational leaders achieve goals because they have an impeccable reputation. The bottom line is perception—what we think about each other is the foundation of any relationship. You must consistently work at building credibility so others are confident about working with you. One way to earn credibility is to keep your promises. Decisions you make will reflect on many brands. These brands include your family name, your reputation, your company, and your industry. Your self-brand will sell naturally and inspire others if you are authentic. You must earn credibility, not expect it.

Research indicates that the foundation of an inspirational leader leads with the heart and soul. They also have a passion for the mission, unlimited enthusiasm, empower their employees, and mix in authenticity, trust, coaching, work alignment, and credibility.

What do you need to work on? Are you serving others? Are you an inspiration? Are you lighting the path for others?

Michele Wierzgac, MSEd, speaker and author, promises that you will leave her solution-driven keynotes and workshops with at least one passionate, life transforming, leadership tool – something that will change the way you seek out a solution and practically apply it without getting stuck.

Email Michele at michele@micheleandco.com or give her a call at (708) 710-7055!