Characteristics of an Inspirational Leader

Inspirational Leadership – Are your team’s eyes shining?

View Benjamin Zander Video on Music and Passion

I’ve watched this video many times.  I never tire of Benjamin and how he leads us on a musical journey through laughter, passion, sadness and insight.  Every time I watch it, I am looking forward to the journey, even though I’ve seen it many times before.  He enrols me.  He makes my eyes shine.   So what is it about Benjamin as a leader that is so engaging? Here are five observations.

1. Vision = Passion

Benjamin has a vision that he is absolutely passionate about – everyone can love music.  It’s his driving force.  It’s so inspiring to him that it cannot help but inspire others.  His vision delights him and his vitality and joyfulness create contagion.  It’s a vision that has personal meaning for him, but equally importantly he is passionate about how his vision can benefit others.  Seeing people moved by music is as joyful to him as his own passion for music.

2. Vision = Purpose

This vision gives him purpose, a stake in the ground from which all action is created.  There is no ambiguity about who he is, what he wants to achieve or what he wants from us.  The end goal is clear.   Being clear about his purpose means he can lead us somewhere, and we can choose whether or not we want to go there.  By being clear about his purpose, he lets his audience make a positive choice to go with him (or not).

3. Vision = Commitment and Non-Attachment

Benjamin is 100% committed to his purpose and whether it works or not, he will keep going.  He doesn’t get stuck in what’s not working or who doesn’t agree with him.   Having such strong faith and belief in his vision means that he doesn’t need to take himself too seriously.  He plays with us and he laughs at himself.  He’s not forcing or convincing anyone to do anything.  This non-attachment to outcome takes the pressure off the audience and lets them fully engage with what he is offering.

4. Vision = Creating from Possibility

There’s nothing small or cautious about Benjamin’s vision.  His vision is that everyone in the world can love music.  He has realised the impact that cautious visioning has on passion and purpose.  When he imagines that he could increase the number of people who love classical music by 1% he becomes serious and worried, daunted by the difficulty of the task.  By visioning from possibility i.e. everyone in the world can love classical music, he becomes inspired and therefore inspirational.  He awakens possibility in all of us.

5. Vision = Being Your Best Self

As a leader, Benjamin takes full responsibility for who he is being in order to lead his orchestra to perform.  He says “Who am I being that my players’ eyes aren’t shining?”  He sees it as his role to light up the eyes of his players and he does this by being lit up or being his best self.  This is about being an authentic leader.  When he is 100% committed to his vision with passion and purpose from a place of possibility and non-attachment, he makes his players’ eyes shine.  And the more he makes their eyes shine, the more his own eyes shine.   He inspires others by being inspired, by himself and by the people around him.

You can be an inspirational leader? If you're interested in exploring how your business leadership style can impact your profitability and workforce, contact us about leadership coaching on [email protected] 

Article by Fiona Monks, Certified Coach