Where do you find inspiration for your executive leadership?

I struggled with "finding my why" so I found my anger & inverted it as passion to give a sense of what I value & purpose. - What’s your biggest complaint about your industry? - What’s wrong with the way your industry currently operates that you would love to fix? - What's “typical” in your industry that you find unacceptable? - What's confusing about your industry? - What's the most common statement of praise you receive? - What's your favourite part of what you do and why do you enjoy it? - What would you do even if you didn’t get paid? - What are the 3 things you want people to think about you? - What lasting change do I want to make? - How do I define success? I also wrote a draft of my obituary to find meaning and purpose.

My purpose as a leader is simple. It's to better the lives of those I lead. Ensuring they understand their worth and value to the team is critical. Working to make each of their lives enriched through employment is the passion.

As a leadership coach I often ask my clients what their "why" is. Why do they care about this outcome? What are their core values? What are they working towards? Why does it matter to them? When things are going well it's easy to find continuous inspiration. What they're difficult, though, you may need to dig deep. Knowing your "why" and using it as a mantra can keep you going when all you want to do is quit.

Finding your purpose is something you are probably going to have to do some digging to really understand. Are there things greater than yourself that you want to affect? Is there a group of people you want to impact? Does the world need to know more about your gifts to make it a better place? These and the others shared here will help you to determine your purpose. Once you have "found" it, write it down and reflect on it for several days. Adjust as appropriate until you are happy with it.

Defining one's purpose is a journey that becomes clearer with experience. It's crucial to actively embrace life's opportunities, recognizing that your purpose isn't solely determined by external events but predominantly by your thoughtful responses.

My greatest inspiration for executive leadership stems from my people - those who support, challenge, and collaborate with me. From my experience, engaging with a diverse range of team members, peers, mentors, coaches, and a robust network has consistently fueled my growth. Drawing from my perspective, these interactions allow me to learn new skills, exchange best practices, actively seek feedback, and ultimately evolve into a more effective and dynamic leader. By aligning with role models I admire, trusting allies, and tapping into the expertise of others, I continuously foster meaningful connections that drive my leadership journey forward.

The next step is to consider your people, as they are the ones who will always be there for you and motivate you to keep moving forward. You should take the time and thank them for their efforts on your behalf, as these efforts may not be visible right away but will benefit you in the long run. You should recognize their efforts and try to compensate them as much as possible.

The people you need around you to realize your purpose are key. Seek out these people constantly through your journey. People that can teach. Peers moving on the same track. Strategic partners. Thought leaders. All of them can help you to realize your purpose. Be prepared that some people will flow in and out of your life as you and your specific situations change. Make sure you are returning value to these people by supporting them in their journey. Your people will make the difference!

3 basic principles for the successful executive leader: Listen: Your team knows what needs to be done, what requires fixing, and what can help improve the situation. We've all encountered a "crocodile boss" before — a boss with a big mouth but no ears. Strive to be a leader, not just a boss. Discipline: Your actions set an example for your team. It's crucial to be the role model who embodies the standards you expect from your team. Consistency is key. Start your day early, work diligently, and promote a culture of discipline. Unite: Establish clear goals for your leadership team and help reconcile any conflicting objectives. Guide your team through conflicts, focusing them on a shared purpose. Foster a psychologically safe environment.

Inspiration for executive leadership often comes from the people you lead, as their diverse perspectives, talents, and resilience can spark new ideas and approaches. By embracing different viewpoints, celebrating collective successes, and learning from challenges, leaders can find motivation and insight. Empowering team members to take ownership of their work fosters a sense of trust and value, while building genuine connections helps align leadership strategies with what truly matters to the team. Ultimately, by leading with empathy and modeling the behavior they wish to see, leaders can create a cycle of mutual inspiration and growth within their organization.

Passion and creativity have always been a major part of my leadership. I would also add my love of connecting with others in authentic and meaningful ways.

Finding your passion is the next critical step because it is what will drive you and keep you motivated to succeed. When it takes a long time to accomplish something, doing daily tasks can become dull and monotonous; in this case, your passion will assist you in getting back on track. When you lose your passion, it is the only thing that will keep you on track.

Your passion is contagious. The energy of the leadership team shapes that of the teams. It is important not only to convey energy at individual events, but also to provide impetus on a weekly basis. Manage your own inner state and be an inspiration.

From my perspective, I firmly believe that my most potent wellspring of inspiration for leadership emerges from my passion. It's this fervor that fuels my enthusiasm, sparks creativity, and sustains my curiosity. Through my experience, I've found that embracing my passion empowers me to explore uncharted territories, experiment with innovative strategies, and authentically communicate my distinct perspective. By asking myself probing questions about my areas of curiosity, strengths, and excitement, I continually integrate my passion into my executive endeavors, propelling me to achieve greater heights of success.

Your passion will fuel your drive when others are done. Use this passion to become better and better so that you can move farther and faster than anyone else. When your work and your passions are aligned you will be a powerful force!

I love this part of the equation! People say that "perception is reality" when, in fact, perception is only a single source of reality. My perspective or perception is built off of 40 years of life that has shaped my worldview and created bias. As executive leaders, we have to understand that our perspective may not be completely accurate, and that's why we have to collaborate and collect other's perspectives in our decision making. Not to the point of slowing down progress, but to make better informed decisions.

Your perspective will control everything about your journey. The way you see the world, challenges, and opportunities will differentiate your growth, the value you provide to others, and your achievements. Perspectives need to change as we learn more and understand things better. This way you will be incorporating the best possible knowledge into strategies and decisions.

People are inspired by leaders who walk the talk. If you have a grand vision, but your actions show you don't follow it, your leaders will be demotivated. Executive leadership skills are in high demand. They can always find another organization with more consistency.

Establishing a purposeful daily ritual is paramount. Energize mornings with walks or mindfulness. Focus on refining key skills daily, enhancing your innovative problem-solving edge. Embed your core values into actions, aligning decisions with beliefs. Allocate dedicated time for each practice, seamlessly integrating them into your routine. This cultivates well-being, clarity, and resilience, ensuring you lead with unwavering prowess.

Creating a rhythm to your day is an essential leadership skill that can power you through days when your resolve is waning. Starting the day with inspirational podcasts or audiobooks on the daily commute, reflective journaling and mindfulness practices can set your focus. Daily exercise that challenges your body is equally important. Conditioning your body is essential for strong leaders and helps develop sharp focus, tenacity and improves energy. These practices are easy to overlook in the busyness of the day, but investment in these personal habits delivers one the best returns a leader can make.

This is where establishing a consistent practice of doing the things necessary is key. Activity alone is not enough. The right activities done consistently are what truly separates high achievers from others. Start your practice with activities that improve your mental and physical health. These are the foundation for everything else. Build upon these with skill development and execution. Schedule time for doing this daily and watch your life change. A morning routine to set you up well for the day or the week ahead is a great way to start this.

Writing and visualizing your own personal development plan can solidify your vision and career goals. What essential skills do you need to develop? How can you position your career for growth? What is on your career bucket list? Taking the time to document a 3-5 year strategy of opportunities and development goals, then breaking that down into an annual, and quarterly goals that direct your behaviors creates a road map for steady progress. The real progress is made in the small, daily steps. Slow is fast.

Your potential fuels growth and evolution as an executive leader. Envision a future that challenges and motivates, sparking big goals, calculated risks, and transformative feedback. Look into knowledge gaps and fuel progress toward your potential. Embrace risks as stepping stones, amplifying capabilities, and leadership dimensions. Feedback guides your ascent. Seek diverse perspectives, validating and constructive, shaping your journey. Measurement tracks advancement. Assess milestones, mastered risks, and growth achieved. Reflection paints your transformative path. Your potential drives innovation, resilience, and impactful leadership. Embrace it as your compass to chart leadership horizons.

Having a mindset of continuous growth and learning is critical. Whether through books, podcasts, conferences, or courses, keeping your mind sharp can spark new ideas and perspectives. And it doesn't always need to be business-focused learning. You may find inspiration in a novel, TV show or a walk in nature. Just keep your mind open.

I draw inspiration from nature in a deeply personal manner. Even the sight of trees in my garden can ignite my creative spark. When one contemplates the immense power and beauty of the natural world, it becomes evident that nature is an unparalleled source of inspiration. Where else can one find such a potent wellspring of creative energy?

I believe the true inspirations for leaders is to come from within. I call it as "DRIVEN". Driven people are individuals who possess strong inner motivation and determination to achieve their goals and make a significant impact in their chosen field or area of interest. Driven people Characteristics - They stay focused - They love themselves - They are goal-oriented - They own their journey - They see things differently - They love to inspire people - They are organized and structured - They desire something bigger than themselves

In addition to the above, executive leaders should not overlook emotional intelligence and vulnerability. Emotional intelligence is not just about self-awareness, it's a dynamic skill set that helps you understand and navigate the emotional landscape of your team and stakeholders. It's the bridge between your intentions and their impact. Vulnerability, on the other hand, is authentic strength. By showing up as your true self, admitting uncertainties, and welcoming feedback, you cultivate a culture of trust and openness. When combined, emotional intelligence and vulnerability create a virtuous cycle.