I wonder what has come up for you since you have been reflecting on that little voice….prod, prod, prod….

If you have been keeping some kind of journal what patterns of thought are showing? What impact is having those thoughts having on you? On your teams? On your family or friends?

I said in the last blog this one would be about next steps and the next steps are calmly doing a little more thinking and reflecting. This blog is about and for ‘leaders’ – you might be a leader in a large or small organisation, or you might be the leader in your one person operation. The thing is, being a leaders starts with powerfully leading oneself – first. Leading your own life and thinking with inspiration, authenticity and passion. How can you lead others if you are not?

Some leaders we have seen in more modern times are singled out time and again as being the most inspiring or enlightened in some way. People like Nelson Mandela, Dr Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama to name just three and I am sure you can think of your own 3 or 4 people that you consider are inspiring leaders. Those people who lead by inspiring (self and) others, as against those people who might have the power to be a leader.

Organisations have managers and senior executives – leaders – and they lead through using the power of their current position more than by inspiring their teams and positively influencing others to achieve what they, the leaders, want. This is not how those inspirational leaders operate. The key factor it seems to me is those who lead, inspire others by engaging people emotionally. If you agree with this then we can consider it in the same way we might consider a sales process – you know, features, advantages, benefits etc…….but the benefits in this case is the big “WHY” – or put another way, what is it that leaders believe passionately about that explains their purpose or reason for existence.

I work with leaders on a daily basis. Once a leader is clear about their purpose, why they exist, and what is so important about that to them, then they unleash their passion and inspiration on others who also ‘feel’ the purpose of following this person. So instead of thinking in terms of the ‘what’ or the ‘how’ of what you are doing as a leader, try it inside out – try communicating your big “WHY” – followed by the How and the What.

Build on that reflective work you have done so far by exploring your ‘why’ whether it be in your personal life or your work life. The structure will support your thinking.

Simon Sinek has this simple model. Check out this video to hear him talk about this more.

I as passionate about helping leaders make their difference, check out some of their stories

Would love to hear about your own thinking on this or any insights you have had. Please share this post.