Inspirational Leadership

Last week while meeting with the CEO of an organization, the importance of inspirational leadership became crystal clear once again.

This person, whose responsibilities include running company with a billion plus in sales, didn't speak much about  P and L statements.  He did not speak at all about himself.  In listening to him, if you didn't know he is a CEO, you'd probably swear that he is a Human Resources manager...and an excellent one at that.  He sees people as his primary business, not selling or making things.

He is passionate about the people in the organization that he leads.  He is passionate about his company's Core Values, against which ALL business decisions are measured.  He rejoices in giving those who work for him the ability to dream big.  He has reminders in his office of the importance of child-like creativity.

He inspires his team members.

It is very common for team members in this organization to be with the company 20 years or more.  They have succeeded in a tough economy while their competition has floundered.

The "blogosphere" recently had a post from a likely well- intentioned leadership guru who proclaimed that this economy demands tough, authoritarian style leadership...no time to be "touchy-feely" in this economy was the message.

Can authoritarian leaders get results?  Sure...short term.  Leaders who inspire versus dictate get lasting results.  The fact is that there are almost never any reasons to use authoritarian leadership as a primary business strategy.  It is a recipe for resentment, disengagement, burn-out, and turn-over.  Even in this economy. 

Inspirational leadership takes courage, discipline, and taking our egos out of the equation.

Spending a half hour last week with that inspiring CEO was moving to say the least.  It was a clear reminder of why what we at Dale Carnegie do is so important.  We develop inspiring leaders and we have been doing so for 97 years.

When we inspire, we get lasting results.