Is inspiration really necessary in leadership? Only if you want to be successful! The purpose of this article is to offer recommendations for being inspirational without feeling the need to be charismatic or an Anthony Robbins clone. I recently met with a coaching client and his company president for a progress report on the coaching engagement. The president proceeded to illustrate how the young executive could be a more inspirational leader. He skillfully referenced the HBO series, "Band of Brothers," to explain the difference between a manager and a leader using the roles of lieutenant and sergeant. The president described a scene in the film where the lieutenant, in his leadership role, designed a specific strategy for attacking the enemy. The sergeant, as a manager, executed the plan by taking the troops into battle. The president went on to elaborate on the importance of the lieutenant's responsibility as an inspiring leader but also pointed out the isolation and loneliness that accompanied that role. You can't be one of the troops and also their leader. I wanted to stand up and applaud. Not only did the president coach the executive, but he also inspired him.

How do you become an inspiring leader. Every executive has heard repeatedly the importance of articulating a vision. This responsibility, however, can sometimes be daunting. The following recommendations are intended to help you become more inspirational by leveraging your vision.

Being an inspirational leader is not about hype, it is about clarifying direction and presenting compelling reasons for moving the organization forward.

• Develop a structure to involve your staff in the creation of a common vision. The structure could be a series of questions that are answered prior to a vision meeting. The answers can be compiled and used as a foundation for creating the vision.

• Design a process for communicating the vision to small and large groups and to individuals.

• Assess your skills for communicating the vision. Get honest feedback from colleagues. To be an inspirational leader and facilitate creative action requires mastering specific strategies and techniques. No one is born an excellent communicator. Get professional help if necessary.

• Learn to use stories as part of your message. The stories can be about the future as you see it or describe organizational heroes and heroines, past and present. Read Howard Gardner's book, "Leading Minds, An Anatomy of Leadership." Gardner tells how Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., Robert Maynard Hutchins, George C. Marshall and other historical leaders used the power of stories.

• Always find a way to make your communication interactive, even in one-on-one situations.

Copyright 2006, Mark J. Campbell. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint this article is granted, provided you let me know where it is being printed, the copyright is not removed, and the following text accompanies each article:

"Mark Campbell partners with organizations for leadership development. For a complimentary subscription to his newsletter, "Management Challenges," go to www.mjcampbellassoc.com."

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