What is inspirational leadership?

If you don't start by dreaming big, you'll never move beyond mediocrity. Set your bar high. Think big thoughts, and dream big dreams.

A common theme among inspirational leaders is setting unattainably high goals for others. Then they have an uncanny ability to work out precisely how to turn their goals into reality.

Step two: An inspirational leader focuses on one thing

Inspirational leaders can galvanise their forces around one thing. They present that one thing as the North Star, the thing that makes them stand out above all others. In so doing, they can head off at the pass the constant threat of direction changes that prevent others from really achieving the highest levels of greatness. What's your one thing?

Step three: An inspirational leader has a winning-mentality
Winning mentality…the mindset that enables winners to be sure they will achieve their goals. To many, it seems like an elusive concept; as if it's too whimsical to be that simple, possibly, yet again and again, we hear from successful people that their mindset is the most potent delivery system in their arsenal.

It starts with a positive attitude. And the good news is that this is entirely achievable through determination.

Thinking positively is a conscious choice. Acting positively is a conscious choice. Reacting positively is a conscious choice.

Inspirational leaders are people of action. They make stuff happen. They continuously push themselves to find better and faster ways to merge the present with the future and realise their goals. They understand the 'Law of diminishing intent' and make sure it doesn't happen to them. What is this law?

The longer you wait to implement a new idea or strategy, the less enthusiasm you will have for it. You've probably had that feeling of rushing out of a seminar or workshop full of great ideas and then doing nothing with it. Why?

Well, the day's demands compete for your attention, and all your good intentions and personal promises for change get pushed to one side. The longer you put them off, the lower the probability you will fulfil them.

That's how great ideas earn an untimely death, and you may find yourself one day in the frustrating position of discovering that your great idea has been done by someone else who is living the dream you should have led.

Resilience is an essential trait, especially in the face of failure. Even armed with your attitude of action and a reputation for making things happen, things will sometimes go wrong.

That's life. You will make mistakes and come off the rails; if you don't, it begs whether you're pushing the boundaries of possibility. Inspirational leaders aren't immune from mistakes or runs of bad luck; what they have learned to do is recover quickly. They pick themselves up, bounce back, and refuse to carry any additional and unnecessary baggage from experience.

Are you failing fast, learning quickly and succeeding faster?

Step six: An inspirational leader is authentic
This trait is one of the most important; the 'glue' binds all the other characteristics together. Authenticity is about being the real deal, being clear on what you stand for, the values that drive your thinking, and the filters through which you define your behaviour. It's about having an unwavering determination that no matter what happens, you will never compromise your core values and beliefs and remain true to who you are and what you stand for.

take action; achieve more