Page 152 - Appreciative Leadership

The Courage of Inspiration 125

essential ingredients for personal and collective transformation—go
hand in hand.
Inspiration moves people to action. It gives them something to
work for and toward in service of a better world. It calls forth their
contribution to the whole. It encourages people to learn and to do
what it takes to realize their dreams, achieve their goals, and help oth-
ers do the same. Inspiration sparks the fire of excellence. It is the

source of all achievement.

Reflect for a moment: Think about a time when

PAUSE you were inspired; a time when you were moved to
creative action. Who or what inspires you? What

awakened your creativity? What gave you confidence to take
action? What did you do?

We are all inspired differently. Seeing a leader speak from the

heart, hearing another person’s story of success, sharing a vision for
a better world, seeing someone overcome an obstacle, witnessing an
exemplary act of service, experiencing mastery, beauty, or joy. What-
ever its form, inspiration creates a positive pull, a creative force that
draws us toward a better life, a better relationship, or a better way of
working.
Appreciative Leadership pays attention to what inspires people.
During our research we heard story after story of leaders, coaches, and

managers who were respected because they were attentive in this way.
Whether their team was made up of 5 or 50 people, they watched and lis-
tened, and they learned what people cared about and what moved them
to action. They learned what inspired the people with whom they work.

Do you know what inspires the people around you? It’s easy to
find out. Just ask them: “Tell me about a time when you were at your

best. What inspired you?” Or watch them: when people feel inspired,
they show excitement, enthusiasm, and high energy. Or listen to them;
when people say things like “I don’t know where this idea comes from,