Inspirational leadership

We’re moving up the spectrum now, looking at leaders who inspire and provide a focus for their organisation.

Level 5: Internal cohesion

These leaders bring out the best in people, whether it’s staff or clients. By building a vision and mission for the organisation, they promote a shared set of values and demonstrate congruence in decision-making from top to bottom.

They’re all about cohesion and are able to align values and mission for the whole enterprise. In doing so, they embrace collaboration and collective action. And by creating an environment of openness, fairness and transparency, they build trust and commitment among their people.

They are more concerned with the common good than their own self-interest. They walk their talk. Viewing problems from a systems perspective, they see beyond the narrow boundaries of cause and effect and find creative solutions. For them, problems become opportunities.

Level 5 leaders are honest, truthful and show total integrity. They feel confident in handling any situation, and by referring to the vision and mission, can bring clarity. They display emotional, as well as intellectual, intelligence.

They are living examples of values-based leadership, because the culture they create produces enthusiasm, passion and creativity at all levels of the organisation.

Being a creative leader doesn’t have to be a gift. It can be developed by recognising the aspects of leadership development we’re describing in these posts. Tell us about leaders who have inspired you.