To inspire: To make someone feel that they want to do something and that they can do it.
To give (someone) an idea about what to do or create.
To fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
To Be Inspiring
A yoga teacher once taught me ‘consider every breath in is an inspiration, every breath out is letting go of what is no longer needed.’ With this mindset, I began noticing leaders achieving extraordinary results by doing very ordinary things and it is these very ordinary things that make leaders accessible and inspire others.
The many inspiring leaders I work with consistently have one or more of the attributes below:
- They help people and ask for help
- They believe in people and help people believe they are capable
- They share their vision and encourage others to share theirs
- They share their ideas and are curious about others’ ideas
- They are accessible, inclusive, appreciative, decisive and selective
- They run great meetings; love being in groups; are tuned to feel, see, then tame the elephants; they find pathways among conflicts and differences in groups
- They help people make connections with one another
- They create and belong to communities
- They get things done
- Are trusted and have tough conversations
- They let people know how they think and feel about things
If you don’t feel good about yourself and don’t trust your own judgment, why would others be inspired by you?
June Oscar’s shared her vision as she was presented with Global Reconciliation’s Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship at Melbourne Town Hall, May 2016; “All societal harms can be overcome. The present does not define who we are… Never leave reconciliation in the hands of another. It is everyone’s business.” Source – Jenny Hutt, Melbourne
© Diana Jones