How to Practice Inspirational Leadership

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How to Practice Inspirational Leadership

Everyone should know a thing or two about how to inspire and motivate others–even non-leaders. It’s an important skill that helps us not only take on leadership challenges but engage better with new people, build new relationships, and perform to the best of our potential.

The first step in motivating people is to stop treating them just as employees, managers, CEOs, etc.–we’re more than the titles on our business cards!–and start treating others as humans. Sounds simple, but it isn’t all that easy in every situation.


1. THEY COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND OFTENHere are three things the most effective leaders tend to do in order to keep their teams motivated and inspired:

When we communicate with others, we have to be clear about what we want. There’s no way to start working towards a common goal until everyone understands what it is and what’s expected of them to help achieve it. Motivational leaders should be approachable and open to dialogue so that everyone they’re trying to motivate can ask questions and share their own ideas. That isn’t shirking the duties of leadership–it’s what helps people connect with your leadership at a personal and emotional level.

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” —Mark Twain

“Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.” —William Butler Yeats

“Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.” —Rollo May

This communication style means not just clearly articulating your message, but also listening actively–without bias or judgment and with a real willingness to consider a different perspective. It’s about trading messages respectfully and accurately, not just delivering them. Paying heed to their factual as well as emotional content is what allows for better mutual understanding.




What is inspirational leadership?

Inspirational leadership is the ability to be a positive influence on those around you and motivate others toward success. Employers of any experience level can practice inspirational leadership, whether they are an executive or an entry-level employee. Inspirational leadership offers your employees or colleagues opportunities to develop their ambition based on your actions and attitude.

Benefits of inspirational leadership

Inspirational leaders can empower others to develop a passion for their work and how they accomplish it. They often invest in developing the talent of those around them and can help a business flourish by demonstrating their commitment to their work and values. There are multiple benefits of inspirational leadership, including:

  • Meeting goals: Teams with an inspirational leader may be more likely to meet and exceed their goals. Inspirational leaders align their work with the values of their team, encouraging others to set ambitious goals and accomplish them consistently.
  • Increased engagement: Inspirational leaders promote a clear sense of purpose to their team that helps each individual find more value in their work. By practicing inspirational leadership, you can increase overall engagement among your colleagues.
  • Committed employees: When employees see a leader modeling a strong work ethic, they will often aspire to the same level of commitment. Employees enjoy working with people who inspire them, and they may commit to a company largely because of an excellent and inspirational manager.

Traits of an inspirational leader

Inspirational leaders not only drive their team toward exceeding their goals, but motivate each team member toward their own personal best. They often accomplish this by modeling the skills, traits and attitude that they would like their employees to demonstrate. Here are some of the traits of an inspirational leader:

  • Positivity: Inspirational leaders maintain a positive attitude in order to increase office morale. Positivity can be a powerful motivator in a team environment.
  • Gratitude: People are more likely to repeat successful behaviors often if they receive thanks for their hard work. By showing gratitude and recognizing how others give you support, you can inspire others to continue utilizing their talents.
  • Curiosity: Inspirational leaders pursue learning and ask questions regularly. Curiosity can inspire others to seek out opportunities for growth as well.
  • Passion: In order to inspire others, you must have a passion for the work you do and the people you work with. Genuinely caring about your company's mission and the well-being of your team helps to model passion that others can aspire to.
  • Integrity: Integrity shows others that they can rely on your judgment and trust you with sensitive issues. Displaying integrity can create a trusting environment that inspires others to uphold similar values.
  • Tact: Being able to handle a difficult situation with tact and grace can help to inspire others as they encounter challenges. Inspirational leaders model tact to promote open communication and consideration of others.
  • Growth mindset: Leaders who inspire others consistently create opportunities for growth. Inspirational leaders demonstrate a growth mindset and encourage those around them to do so as well.

How to develop inspirational leadership skills

Some leaders may seem to have a natural talent for inspiring others, but there are many ways to develop your skills as an inspirational leader.

Here are steps to help you develop your inspirational leadership skills:

  1. Get to know your team
  2. Develop core values
  3. Build trust
  4. Offer support
  5. Take responsibility
  6. Praise success

1. Get to know your team

People tend to appreciate when others take the time to get to know them, especially in the workplace. By learning about what your teammates value and how they work best, you will be able to find unique ways to inspire them. Different people are inspired by different things, and understanding the individual personalities on your team will help you adjust your leadership style when working with others. When people feel understood, they may be more open to inspiration and guidance.

2. Develop core values

In order to inspire a team, you need to have a reason for the work you do and guidelines for completing that work. Developing core values and practicing them daily will show your team that their work can drive positive change in their life and community. When determining your core values, consider what is most important to your team in their work and their personal life. Examples of core values include:

  • Community
  • Creativity
  • Hard work
  • Innovation
  • Respect

Read more: Core Values: Overview and Examples

3. Build trust

By building trust with your coworkers, you can build relationships that support growth on an individual and team level. If an employee or colleague feels they can trust you, they may be more likely to accept advice and guidance. An inspirational leader makes an impact by mentoring others, and trust is necessary for them to thrive. Trust between coworkers shows that they will support one another through challenges and successes with their team's best interests in mind.

4. Offer support

Inspirational leaders readily offer support to others before being asked. Offering support can help to build a sense of community and encourage others to take on more ambitious tasks. By making resources readily available to others, you can inspire them to take risks and actively pursue their professional development.

5. Take responsibility

Taking responsibility for your shortcomings shows humility and teachability that may inspire others. Especially for those in a managerial role, your willingness to accept shortcomings and make improvements encourages others to do the same. This strategy also displays dedication and loyalty to your team by prioritizing collective success over personal reputation.

6. Praise success

Just as an inspirational leader will take responsibility for setbacks on a team, they will also recognize the successes of their team. Great leaders do not need to claim all of the credit on a project to earn the respect of others, and can in fact motivate their team more by sharing praise. Recognizing when an employee is doing well and being specific in your positive feedback provides motivation and feelings of pride.

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