Motivational Leadership
Motivational
leadership is based on The Law of Indirect Effort. According to this law, most
things in life are achieved more easily by indirect means than they are by
direct means. You more easily become a leader to others by demonstrating that
you have the qualities of leadership than you do by ordering others to follow
your directions. Instead of trying to get people to emulate you, you
concentrate on living a life that is so admirable that others want to be like
you without your saying a word.
The Most Powerful
Motivational Leaders
Perhaps
the most powerful motivational leader is the person who practices what is
called "servant leadership." Confucius said, "He who would be
master must be servant of all." The person who sees himself or herself as
a servant to others and who does everything possible to help them perform at
their best is practicing the highest form of servant leadership.
The Leader of Today
Today's
leaders are the ones who ask questions, listen carefully, plan diligently, and
then build consensus among all those who are necessary for achieving the goals.
The leader does not try to do it all alone. The leader gets things done by
helping others do them.
Qualities of Leaders
The
following are important qualities of motivational leaders. These are qualities
that you already have to a certain degree and that you can develop further to
stand out from the people around you in a very short period of time.
Vision
The
first quality is vision. This is the only single quality that, more than
anything separates leaders from followers. Leaders have vision. Followers do
not. Leaders have the ability to stand back and see the big picture. Leaders
have developed the ability to fix their eyes on the horizon and see greater
possibilities.
Motivate Others
The
best way for you to motivate others is to be motivated yourself. The fastest
way to get others excited about a project is to get excited yourself. The way
to get others committed to achieving a goal or a result is to be totally
committed yourself. The way to build loyalty to your organization, and to other
people, is to be an example of loyalty in everything you say and do.
The Ability to Choose
One
requirement of leaders is the ability to choose an area of excellence. Just as
a good general chooses the terrain on which to do battle, an excellent leader
chooses the area in which he and others are going to do an outstanding job. The
commitment to excellence is one of the most powerful of all motivators. All
leaders who effect change in people and organizations are enthusiastic about
achieving excellence in a particular area.
Action Exercise
Try a
new attitude toward your employees; show up on Monday morning and be positive
and cheerful. If you are motivational, your attitude will rub off on your
employees and they will work more efficiently.
