Think about some of the most powerful companies in the world. What do they have in common? Strong leadership!
Now think about the inspiring leaders within those companies. You probably can guess the list of qualities they all share, effective communication, integrity, innovation, creativity, critical thinking, flexibility … But the common denominator here, something that transcends the conventionality of being committed to a career is being committed to a cause, a WHY. When companies have leaders that are driven by this WHY, a compelling cause, and a powerful mission, their employees are a lot more productive.
“Average companies give their people something to work on. In contrast, the most innovative organizations give their people something to work toward.” -Simon Sinek
These employees come to work eager, enthusiastic, and determined because they believe their goals to be in alignment with the goals of the company. Their positive attitude attracts other people who are eager to get an in and work there as well.
Inspired leaders don’t see themselves as the most important element to propel the company toward success. They don’t show up just for the money, the prestige, and the respect their title gets them. They show up because they were offered a cause that they chose to pursue.
“The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.” -Simon Sinek
Inspired leaders give their employees a sense of purpose, they propel them to expand their own skills and talents all while working on tackling challenges. They focus on developing ideas and developing people rather than assigning them instructions on what is expected of them at work.
Inspiring leaders don’t start out believing they are going to influence others to do all the work while they take the credit and hoard the successes. They set out to hone their skills, grow their knowledge, and nurture their passion to do the work they deem important.
By doing so and succeeding they find that they have inspired others along the way, people who were zealous to join them in realizing their vision. When you’re in a leadership role, a big part of your job is to inspire the people that work with you. You can do that by showing up fully committed to achieving the company’s vision and bringing its purpose to life.
The key to inspired leadership isn’t just about materializing new ideas, it’s also invaluable for navigating hardships. When employees exacerbate a higher sense of purpose, they’re a lot more emotionally resilient, and they find it easier to push through obstacles and difficulties. They can even find opportunities in those challenges.
“People who come to work with a clear sense of WHY are less prone to giving up after a few failures because they understand the higher cause.” -Simon Sinek
That cause, that vision, and that higher purpose is what fuels your motivation and inspires you to believe in the possibility of achieving immeasurable levels of success. Not only do you believe in that possibility but you also trust your employees to make that possibility a reality.
Being a successful leader means you are aware of what and how you communicate. It means you’re actively listening to what the people around you say. You develop mindfulness in the way you show up, how you present yourself, and the way you engage with those you lead. Inspiring and empowering those under your care begins with establishing an open channel of communication, one that encourages freedom of expression and innovative thinking.
In this day and age, that is almost impossible to execute without the precise and targeted use of social media. Showing up and sharing your commitment to the cause that brings purpose, intention, and meaning to the company you represent is essential.
Social media is an invaluable tool that gives you the ability to create your own way to show up as a credible and authoritative leader and share your inspiring story with others. The first step to forging your way toward a bright future is to make sure your social media presence reflects the cause you stand behind and the vision you seek to achieve.
You can do this by customizing your profile and creating a banner that best represents you--your mission and core values. Social media can facilitate the act of showing up in that regard. It helps you gain credibility and establish yourself as a thought leader, but it also allows you to connect and build relationships with like-minded people who are also partisans of the cause you’re rallying. The key to inspired leadership is knowing and communicating your WHY.
