Inspirational Leadership: Renew Your Own Passion

Inspirational Leadership: Renew Your Own Passion

Take Personal Responsibility For Your Own Inspiration

by Michael D. Hume, M.S.

Many of my clients want to develop more inspirational leadership. Some want this because their boss has told them to be more inspirational as leaders; but most simply recognize that inspirational leadership is by far the best way to motivate others for superior performance. Many are, themselves, inspired people... and that's the critical first step.

Times are tough right now, and things are likely to get worse before they get better. It's easy to lose your passion, not just for your work or your business, but for life in general. Inspirational leaders take personal responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen, or that it doesn't last long when it does happen.

Since your own passion is key to your ability to deliver inspirational leadership, how do you renew it? Here are some ideas that have worked for my clients over the years.

Do some writing. If you can, write out your vision for your own career and life. What will you be doing in five years? How will you spend your hours and days? By which people will you be surrounded? Where will you be? If it's been awhile since you wrote out your vision, and you notice your passion slipping, it might be time to revisit it. Journaling is also a great tool for maintaining inspiration... write down your thoughts every day, and try to focus on what has inspired you. And you might even try some writing that's completely unrelated to your work. Can you write a song? A play? A poem? A novel or short story? Maybe that sounds strange to you... but how do you know you can't excel in creative writing? No one else ever has to read what you've written - and the creative process is therapeutic. It can really turn on your passion.

Do some reading, too. Read something that you're interested in, and that has nothing to do with work. If you have a hard time choosing, just grab a book (or your electronic reader) and start something. If you find, fifty pages later, that you aren't "into" it, set it aside and start something else. And by the way: don't forget to read back through the things you've written yourself, especially if you have been keeping a journal. What were you thinking (and writing) about one year ago today? My clients have had great luck with this - they often find that the passion they've "found" in the last year gives clues to how they will renew their passion for the next weeks and months.

And do some talking. If you have a significant other, one of my favorite prescriptions is to talk to that person and get some coaching on what it will take to rekindle your inspiration. Even if you think your spouse has no idea what goes on at your job, you'll be surprised by what you learn by involving them in that part of your life (even more than you have before). And, of course, talk to your best friends. Ask them what drives them, but even more importantly, ask for feedback on what they've observed about you (and what they think inspires you). Again, the worst that can happen is that your friend feels flattered and included in your life; at best, you'll get some amazing insight.

Leaders are busy... you're no exception. But I heard a brilliant coach once say that "busy is easy." Don't allow yourself to get so busy with the day-to-day grind of your work that you lose sight of what has inspired you to take on that work in the first place. Take personal responsibility for your own passion - don't just "wait to be inspired." If inspiration doesn't bump into you, go out and look for it. You may be surprised what you find.

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