The Leadership Spark

The difference between leaders is energy, energy communicated, energy implemented. That communicated/implemented energy is what I call the “leadership spark.” Leaders exhibiting the spark have an unmatched advantage over leaders who don’t.

You know what it is. You’ve seen leaders who have it and those who don’t.??

Some call that spark charisma.? In terms of leadership, spark, I believe, is the more descriptive word.?

“Charisma” comes from a Greek root meaning “favor, divine gift,” and denotes a special magnetic charm or appeal.? However, “spark” comes from an Old Norse root meaning “to trigger” and denotes the powerful initiation of some activity.

The ancient Greeks had a saying that links to this. "When Aeschines speaks, we say, 'How well he speaks,' but when Demosthenes speaks, we say, 'Let's march against Phillip!'"?

You see the difference. Leadership isn’t about simply being charming.? The word “leadership” comes from another Old Norse root meaning to “make go.”? Leadership is about action, making things go. Let’s stick with spark.???

Leadership spark is a function of the leader’s exceptional vitality and purpose.? It encompasses the persona, the speech and the activities of the leader who possesses it.?

What was your reaction to those leaders who had the spark? Most likely you were inspired. Leaders who have the spark embrace tasks with joyful eagerness, plunging like an elephant plunging into a lake in the mid-day heat. Even when they find the challenge difficult, when they may not feel up to it, they still joyfully engage in the task at hand. (Article Joy) ?

The spark is important only if is applied. I know of no better way to manifest and apply the spark than giving Leadership Talks.? ?

There is only one function to every Leadership Talk, that’s to motivate people to act for exceptional results. A leader’s spark is useless unless it engenders a spark in the people that prompts them to act in such ways. And the spark must not just come and go but be a sparkle of joy, compassion, and wisdom that defines you wherever you go as a leader and whatever you undertake.?

Copyright ? The Filson Leadership Group, Inc.

The author of some 40 published books, Brent Filson’s latest two leadership books are: “The Leadership Talk: 7 Days to Motivating People to Achieve Exceptional Results” and “107 Ways to Achieve Great Leadership Talks.” A former Marine infantry platoon and company commander, he is the founder of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc., which for 40 years has helped thousands of leaders of all ranks and functions in top companies worldwide achieve sustained increases in hard, measured results. He has published some 150 articles on leadership and been a guest on scores of radio/tv shows. His mission is to have leaders replace their traditional presentations with his specially developed, motivating process, The Leadership Talk. www.brentfilson.com and theleadershiptalk.com.

Besides having lectured about the Leadership Talk at MIT Sloan School of Management, Columbia University, Wake Forest, Villanova, Williams, Middlebury, Filson brought the Leadership Talk to leaders in these organizations: Abbott, Ameritech, Anheuser-Busch, Armstrong World Industries, AT&T, BASF, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Bose, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Campbell Sales, Canadian Government, CNA, DuPont, Eaton Corporation, Exelon, First Energy, Ford, General Electric, General Motors, GTE, Hartford Steam Boiler, Hershey Foods, Honeywell, Houghton Mifflin, IBM, Meals-on-Wheels, Merck, Miller Brewing Company, NASA, PaineWebber, Polaroid, Price Waterhouse, Roadway Express, Sears Roebuck, Spalding International, Southern Company, The United Nations, Unilever, UPS, Union Carbide, United Dominion Industries, U.S. Steel, Vermont State Police, Warner Lambert —