The Inspirational Leader

Inspire. Have you ever thought about what that word means? 

I did a quick search on my digital dictionary and here’s what I found: 

It comes from the Middle English “enspire” and also from the Old French “inspirer,” both of which take their meaning from the Latin “inspirare,” which means “to breath into.”

I love that meaning. 

When I think about who and what inspires me, I first think about the incredible people I meet daily. 

How many people do I run into and, after speaking with them, hearing their life story, or hearing about their new venture or plans for the future, I walk away feeling as if their life breathed into mine? I feel inspired. 

You and I carry unique stories that detail our journey, and those stories possess the power to inspire other people.  

To inspire another person requires only a willingness to share your life with them. You never know how the simple sharing of a story in which you overcame a hardship, or accomplished one of your long-standing goals can inspire another person. 

When we hear a good story, it restores our faith in humanity and inspires us to be our best selves. 

Not only do our stories inspire people, but our words inspire as well. 

In a 2015 Fast Company article, Scott Sobel, founder of Media & Communications Strategies Inc., was quoted as saying, “Humans are aspirational. We want to look up to role models and leaders and follow what they ask.” 

You and I naturally look for inspiration in our lives. We’re wired to seek out ways to reach our full potential as human beings; collecting inspiration being one of our favorite methods. 

Dad used to say, “What we say and do really does count.” Our words and actions matter as leaders. A timely, well-wrought inspiring word can motivate our teams, boost morale, and reaffirm a company’s mission and vision. 

A selfless or generous act can work wonders in a person’s life. I think we forget how easy it is to let our workloads overtake our attention. When you and I focus on fixing problems, putting out fires at work, or reaching our sales goals, we neglect the need for inspiration in our work environments. 

Inspiring a co-worker or friend doesn’t need to be some epic thing. Inspiring others can begin with a simple gesture, like picking up the tab for lunch, or with caring words, like “My pleasure.” 

Let’s use our words, and actions to inspire goodness and breathe life into others today.