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Have you ever wondered, “How do some leaders seem to excel at inspiring their people, while others continually have trouble rallying their troops?”

It’s a question that adds to the debate as to whether the ability to lead and inspire is innate or developed. While that discussion is continually defended by both sides, few will disagree with the power and presence of inspirational leaders provide. The amount of influence they hold and the results they routinely achieve are the envy of aspiring leaders at every level. Interestingly enough, it’s not just other leaders that long for this skill; studies continue to show that employees crave it as well.

“In a survey of more than one and a half thousand managers, people were asked what they would most like to see in their leaders. The most popular answer, mentioned by 55% of people, was ‘inspiration’. When asked if they would describe their current leader as ‘inspiring’, only 11% said yes.”  – Source: UK Dept. for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Inspirational leadership is the purest expression of leadership because it creates a sense of intrinsic motivation within the follower; a vital concept that Jack Hayhow spoke to in our interview earlier this year. Benchmarking successful leaders across business shows that the stereotype of the inspirational leader as someone extroverted and charismatic tends to be the exception rather than the rule. Looking at their best practices, some inspirational leaders certainly do fit this mould, however a large number are just the opposite. Many are quiet, almost introverted in their approach. This leads to the conclusion that being inspirational is more than just a vision, speech, or event. It’s more of an attitude, a mindset, and a process that needs to be honed and committed to with everything you do.

In developing your own approach to inspiring your employees, one place to start is with the teachings of John C. Maxwell. Maxwell, a renowned leadership guru, has published his thoughts on the 5 Attributes of Inspirational Leaders. I have found these to be an excellent self-check and framework for personal development in this area.

5 Attributes of an Inspirational Leader by John C. Maxwell

1. Attitude of Service

To be an inspirational leader, you must adopt an attitude of service toward those you lead. This requires laying aside selfish interests to add value to another person. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” When you serve, you awaken something magnetic inside of you. People are drawn to follow you because they know you’ll find ways to make them better.

2. Affirmation

To inspire means to have a positive view of others. If we’re not careful, we become fault-finders, magnifying the flaws in everyone around us. Instead, leaders should emulate gold prospectors - always on the lookout for potential gold mines. When they find traces of ore, prospectors assume there’s a rich vein to unearth, and they start digging. In the same fashion, leaders ought to search for the best traits within a person and commit to uncovering them.

One of the best applications of this idea is expressed in what I call the 101 percent principle: Find the one thing that you believe is a person’s greatest asset, and then give 100 percent encouragement in that area. Focusing on a person’s strengths inspires them by promoting confidence, growth, and success.

3. Attentiveness

Great inspirers know the desires of those they lead. As much as people respect the knowledge and ability of their leaders, these are secondary concerns for them. They don’t care how much their leaders know until they know how much their leaders care. When leaders attend to the deeply felt needs of their team, the determination and commitment of each team member skyrockets.

4. Availability

Leaders inspire by intentionally investing time in the people they lead. They make themselves available. People cannot be nurtured from a distance or by infrequent spurts of attention. They need a leader to spend time with them - planned time, not just a conversation in passing.

In our fast-paced and demanding world, time is a leader’s most precious commodity. While it feels costly to give up, nothing communicates that you value a person more than the gift of your time. In addition, investing time to develop others has a way of reaping dividends. As Ralph Waldo Emerson remarked, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

5. Authenticity

To inspire, leaders have to be genuine. More than anything else, followers want to believe in and trust their leaders. However, when leaders break promises or fail to honor commitments, they reveal themselves as being inauthentic, and they lose credibility. Trust rests upon a foundation of authenticity. To gain trust, a leader must consistently align words and deeds, while showing a degree of transparency.

What do you think are the keys to being an inspiring leader?