I conducted a little survey.
At the risk of you not taking me seriously from this moment forward, I asked – on social media! – one simple question: What inspires you?
If I am at the risk of losing you here, let me say this: the results of my little survey are echoed in, and affirmed by, huge studies* right around the world.
Here’s what respondents said inspires them:
People who are gutsy enough to be open, honest, vulnerable and authentic
Knowing I can make a difference
Courage, gratitude
Helping others
Maintaining integrity in the face of adversity
Learning
People who try to make the world a better place
Moving through struggles to achieve something that matters
Hands-on leadership, open communication, entrepreneurial spirit
Compassion
Empathy
Kindness
Those who challenge the unknown
Ordinary people who do extraordinary things
More than ever, the keys to success for our times include connectedness, openness and empathy. We need and want leaders with humility and candor, those who are authentic and whom we can trust.
They’re qualities that, time and again, people call inspiring.
What this means is that it’s time to get serious about inspiring – because if you’re not, you’re not leading.
The question is: how do you do it? And, how do you do it your way, with your particular brand stamped all over it?
It’s time to redefine leadership. I’ve discovered the best way to start is here:
Wise up on what holds you back
Being an inspiring leader takes a certain type of courage, confidence and integrity.
It means shifting past whatever stops you from being courageous, confident and in your integrity.
What gets in the way of showing you’re human and admitting mistakes, for example? What stops you from connecting personally, speaking openly and honestly, and showing empathy? Do you have a strength of character that inspires confidence – or not?
Ideas, beliefs, habits and patterns about who you are and aren’t need to be placed firmly on the table. What’s serving you? What isn’t?
And, what do you need you do to be courageous, confident, and behave with integrity?
Big questions. They need to be answered – with behaviours to match and a strategy to implement them – to be truly inspiring.
We want to be in the presence and care of leaders who are wise and strong.
What’s getting in your way?
And, when will you decide to step up as the type of leader the world needs right now? We’re so ready for you. And we’re waiting.
~~
Stay tuned for the Inspire Code. It’s designed to develop the type of leaders the world needs right now, and it launches July 1.
Make sure you scroll down and pop your name in the box below so you’re amongst the first to hear all about it.
I’m Tricia Karp, and I’m on a mission to develop the type of leaders the world needs right now. I offer workshops, coaching and consulting for organisations and individuals who are committed to making a difference. You can find out more right here.