Here’s an interesting thought: As IOTs we are like gold prospectors – always on the lookout for potential gold mines! Those are some thought-provoking words from the pen of Dr. John Maxwell. Okay, he didn’t say the part about IOTs – we added that! But he was referring to inspirational leaders – which every IOT should be! And he had lots more to say that we think is worth passing along to you.Much of our training focuses on developing our teachers’ technical skills – and that’s important. But don’t forget that your training should also be inspirational. Your teachers want an instructor who will encourage them, believe in their potential, and help them grow. It's really a matter of putting 1 Corinthians 13 into practice toward your students!
So, by permission, here are some thoughts from Dr. Maxwell on being an inspirational leader. Think of how you can apply these thoughts as an IOT.
Five Attributes of an Inspirational Leader*
Attitude of Service
To be an inspirational leader, you must adopt an attitude of service toward those you lead. This requires laying aside selfish interests to add value to another person. When you serve, you awaken something magnetic inside of you. People are drawn to follow you because they know you'll find ways to make them better.
Affirmation
To inspire means to have a positive view of others. If we're not careful, we become fault-finders, magnifying the flaws in everyone around us. Instead, leaders should emulate gold prospectors - always on the lookout for potential gold mines. When they find traces of ore, prospectors assume there's a rich vein to unearth, and they start digging. In the same fashion, leaders ought to search for the best traits within a person and commit to uncovering them.
One of the best applications of this idea is expressed in what I call the 101 percent principle: Find the one thing that you believe is a person's greatest asset, and then give 100 percent encouragement in that area. Focusing on a person's strengths inspires them by promoting confidence, growth, and success.
Attentiveness
Great inspirers know the desires of those they lead. As much as people respect the knowledge and ability of their leaders, these are secondary concerns for them. They don't care how much their leaders know until they know how much their leaders care. When leaders attend to the deeply felt needs of their team, the determination and commitment of each team member skyrockets.
Availability
Leaders inspire by intentionally investing time in the people they lead. They make themselves available. People cannot be nurtured from a distance or by infrequent spurts of attention. They need a leader to spend time with them - planned time, not just a conversation in passing. In our fast-paced and demanding world, time is a leader's most precious commodity. While it feels costly to give up, nothing communicates that you value a person more than the gift of your time.
Authenticity
To inspire, leaders have to be genuine. More than anything else, followers want to believe in and trust their leaders. However, when leaders break promises or fail to honor commitments, they reveal themselves as being inauthentic, and they lose credibility. Trust rests upon a foundation of authenticity. To gain trust, a leader must consistently align words and deeds, while showing a degree of transparency.
Summary
Inspirational leadership can be confused with momentary charisma. I prefer to think about inspiring as more of a process than an event. More than a brilliant speech, it's cultivating habits of brilliance that manifest themselves daily. By modeling the five attributes of an inspiring leader, I trust that you'll win the respect of those you lead and earn the right to influence them.
Wow! There’s no doubt that an instructor who serves and affirms his or her students, gives attention to them and is available to help, and who does it all with authenticity (puts 1 Corinthians 13 into practice!) is going to be a blessing and an inspiration to them. In turn, this instructor will bring out the best in his or her students – and maybe uncover that hidden gold mine!
*This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, GiANT Impact's premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at www.giantimpact.com.
