6 Qualities of Those Who Practice Inspiring Leadership
8 min read
Learn how to be the type of leader that you would like to have.
Every professional has experienced some great leaders, and some terrible leaders. And while we can all identify those two camps, it can be difficult to actually pinpoint the elements of leadership that make someone a truly inspiring leader. The fascinating thing about leadership is that it’s most effective when it’s least present.
Every professional setting will inevitably involve some form of leadership. The best leaders will leave their staff feeling supported, heard, and inspired. The good news is that inspirational leadership is a professional skill, meaning it can be learned. Today, we’re going to show you how.
In this article we’ll discuss:
What the top attributes of an inspirational leader are.
How someone who isn’t in a leadership role can still be an inspirational leader.
Why it’s important to hone your leadership skills at work.
Who can be a leader at work
Sometimes we only associate leadership with those in management or executive level roles. The truth though, is that leadership is present in all levels of a business. Inspiring leaders are not just people who manage or oversee others. The characteristics of a great leader are more personal than that. Those who possess leadership skills are likely to be coachable, determined, and have excellent communication skills.
Demonstrating leadership skills even at lower-level positions is also a great way to communicate your capacity for greater responsibility. One thing is for sure, those who do not possess leadership skills won’t be the first to be considered for leadership positions.
Why is being inspirational important in leadership?
Everything that occurs in the workforce is being driven by the desire for increasing the company’s analytics. Whether that is increasing sales, clients, production, or solutions, there is always an underlying goal of benefiting the company. However, there is psychology at play in these goals too.
There is evidence to support the idea that motivation is more sustainable when it is rooted in inspiration than in discipline or fear. Productivity rises when staff feel respected and appreciated. It’s not just a kind thing to be an inspirational leader, it’s actually a strategic business move.
Top 6 qualities of an inspirational leader
If you are wanting to grow into an effective inspirational leader, try building up these top six qualities of an inspirational leader.
Communication
Being able to communicate well is one of the most crucial parts of being an inspirational leader. Communication skills allow you to offer colleagues clear and concise insight. Many positions in the workforce require staff to work as part of a team. In those situations, it’s important to be able to communicate expectations, responsibilities, and goals.
Conflict management also falls into the realm of communication. Conflicts large and small are inevitable in professional settings. But to remain professional, you need to have effective communication. Whatever the conflict is, you and your colleagues are on the same team. You both have the shared goal of seeing the company succeed. Even when you have different opinions or ideas than a colleague, you should communicate in a way that offers respect, understanding, and acceptance. Doing so will create and maintain a safer and more inspiring work environment.
Empathy
Empathy in the workplace can support a team by building trust and supporting everyone’s well-being. The most important elements of empathy that make an inspirational leader are active listening, emotional intelligence, and an interest in the people they work with.
The most effective leaders know that there is no one way to lead. On any given work team, there will be a handful of different learning styles. People are diverse, and a great leader understands that appreciating their colleagues’ differences makes a positive impact on group morale and productivity.
Optimistic determination
Being an inspirational leader means being the source of encouragement for your team. More than simply having a can-do attitude, being optimistic and determined is a strategic business move. A business will always perform better if its staff believe in what it offers.
Having a positive attitude can look different on different leaders. Regardless of the approach though, it should have the same positive effects on the team. One of the most beneficial parts of being an optimistic leader is supporting and encouraging staff even during challenging times. Hurdles and roadblocks are bound to occur, but optimistic determination is how an inspirational leader leads a team through and challenging times.
Decisiveness
A large component of many leadership roles is being in a position to make decisions. When someone is able to come to a final decision on how to move forward, it saves time overall. A key component to being inspirational in your decisiveness is being open to feedback and iterations. As a leader, you can still ask for contributions from your team to try and reach a goal. Making a decision after hearing all the input is what makes an inspirational leader.
As you move through your career, being decisive will result from learned experiences. This can help create a sense of trust and respect among your colleagues, and also makes a great quality in a leader.
Passionate
When someone is passionate about the work they do, it shows. They are more naturally motivated and eager to come to work each day, and that can have a positive effect on those around them. Simply put, passion fuels excellence.
Passion can also be a useful tool for a leader because it instills resilience. Something didn’t go right on the project? It doesn’t affect the team as much because they are still passionate about the work they do. They want to overcome the hurdle. This is precisely how passion can help a leader foster an inspirational environment.
Authenticity
An inspirational leader shows up as they really are. People can sense when a leader is being performative. Their words and actions don’t resonate as much if they don’t feel authentic. Showing up authentically in the workplace means being genuine, honest, and transparent.
Authenticity can help build trust and promote an ethical work environment in which others can feel safe being authentic too.
How can you inspire others in a team when not in a leadership role?
Just because you don’t manage a team doesn’t mean you can’t embody leadership tendencies. Ironically, possessing leadership skills can also help you to be a better non-leader team member. The same principles apply.
Lead by example
The most effective way to show leadership skills when you’re not in a leadership position is to display it for yourself. Don’t tell others how to act, just embody it. Have integrity in everything you do, and opt for teamwork over solo work. Others will see the example you’re setting and want to act in a similar way.
Share ideas
Be vocal when you have an idea or thought that you think could help contribute to a shared goal. Doing so tells others that you want to work alongside them, that you are equals, and that you have their best interest at heart. Be mindful of not being too aggressive with your ideas. Simply put them out in the ether and see if anyone wants to move forward with them.
Practice active listening
Active listening is the art of offering support to someone through non-verbal, focused attention. It includes using body language like direct eye contact and positioning your body so that you face the speaker directly. Internally, active listening means that you don’t come up with your response or rebuttal while the other person is still speaking. This offers respect and support to whoever you’re lending your ear to.
Be supportive
When someone brings up their own insight or ideas, be encouraging and supportive of their contribution. Even if you don’t agree with the suggestion, being professional and inspirational means supporting their efforts.
Take initiative
If there are steps to achieve a goal that no one is willingly volunteering for, it shows great leadership qualities to be the person to step forward. Other examples of taking initiative in the workplace include getting conversation back on task, coming up with innovative solutions, and encouraging collaboration among multiple departments or agencies.
Focus on developing these qualities to improve your leadership
There is no magic formula that can help you to become an inspiring leader. You just need to focus on developing the right leadership qualities and putting them into practice each and every day. Do that, and it won’t be long before you’re providing the inspirational leadership your team needs to enjoy greater success.
New to a leadership role? Visit our website for additional resources, plus a free resume review by one of our trusted experts in the field.
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Written by
Emma Elizabeth, Resume Writer, Emma Elizabeth, Resume Writer
Emma is a certified employment specialist with over 6 years of experience in career mentorship and employment training. With an affinity for technical writing, Emma is passionate about developing training, policy, and procedure manuals. In 2020 she helped design Colorado’s first state-certified training program for people with disabilities entering the workforce.
