3 must read leadership blogs
For most people, being a leader that inspires takes work. And working at it will make a difference. Being an inspiring leader is crucial to being the best leader you can be. If you’re aspiring to inspire your team, and need a little guidance, check out these blogs that focus your attention in the right direction.
15 Things Inspiring Leaders Do Differently
Inc.com columnist, Lee Colan uses his experience of working with over 200,000 leaders and shares 15 practices of inspiring leaders and 15 practices of expiring leaders. I’ve rounded up my favourites from the inspiring leader list here:
- Set a clear and compelling vision.
- Collaborate with their team to define a plan for realizing that vision.
- Keep the plan visible.
- Eliminate barriers to getting work done.
- Listen more than they talk.
- Give credit for and reward successes.
- Care about their people as much as their people’s performance.
- Focus on the organization’s purpose as much as (if not more) than profits.
Read more at Inc.com.
Leadership is 10% Perspiration, 90% Inspiration
Huff Post contributor, Barbara Morris-Blake, makes the case that leadership really is all about inspiration. She outlines the capabilities inspiring leaders must master. A summary of which can be found here:
Create a clear, compelling vision – create visions that first, excite them and second, motivate others.
Motivate with stretch goals – push themselves and others beyond their comfort zones.
Develop other leaders – high-performing individuals and a pipeline of new leaders.
Work collaboratively – understand and address the needs, expectations and concerns of collaborative allies.
Champion creativity – challenge the status quo, encourage new ways of addressing problems and opportunities and reward creativity are compensated with employee effort and commitment.
Listen and communicate – create opportunities for discussion. And keep people informed about goals, expectations and results by communicating frequently and thoroughly.
Be an authentic role model – They do what they say they’re going to do. And they exemplify the standards and behaviours they expect from others.
Read more at Huff Post.
The 7 Secrets of Inspiring Leaders
Forbes.com contributor, Carmine Gallo outlines what he believes are the 7 qualities that all inspiring leaders truly poses. My favourite is ‘Invite Participation’ – to illustrate this, the author uses Marissa Mayer’s (CEO at Yahoo) tactic – “she keeps a sign-up sheet outside her door for office hours that are held each day at 4:00 p.m. She gives team members 15 minutes to voice their opinions or pitch new ideas.” What a great way to encourage involvement.
Read about the other 6 secrets at Forbes.com.
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