Introduction

To inspire, according to the dictionary, means to affect or guide by divine influence; to stimulate to action, to draw forth, elicit or arouse; to bring about. In its archaic form, inspire meant, “to breathe life into”.

The truly inspirational leader does seem to breathe life into a project, a team and an organisation. The same work and the same people who seemed dull and routine yesterday take on a different aura when we are inspired to see them as ‘belonging to a larger and more important whole’, of which we are also part of. An old story goes: There were once two bricklayers, one of whom went about his work with competence but without enthusiasm, looking forward only to completing his work and going home to supper. The other bricklayer worked with delight and took pleasure in his achievement at the end of each day. When each was asked what he was doing, the first man said, “I am laying bricks.” The second man said, “I am building a cathedral.”

Helping another person to connect his/her daily efforts to the strategic goals and vision of the organisation is the challenge of the inspirational leader.

We often use the metaphor that a person with an inflated personality “sucks all the air from the room”. An inspirational leader, by contrast, seems to bring fresh air into a room, enlarging the hopes, intentions and expectation of all those whom he or she touches.

Click here to view a video on how to be an inspirational leader.