Inspiring Leadership

Someone recently asked me, ‘What inspires your leadership’? To me, becoming a good leader, or striving to be a great one, is something that is never fully realized. It is constantly evolving, informed by outside influences and internal struggles; by people you know and people you wish you did; by personal achievements and the achievements of others. 

Inspired leadership, for me, has been influenced by many things. By the people I met in the ‘Leading Strategically’ workshop I attended at the Banff Centre, by my husband who is an artist and excited by something new almost every day, by the people I work with at Foundry and by a few core values, in no particular order:

1. Keep good company

Surround yourself with the brightest, most inquisitive, creative people who are driven to do good things for good people, who listen and share equally, who never accept anything that is just ‘okay’, and who push themselves harder than they would ever push anyone else.

2. Be fiercely optimistic

Growing a successful business and leading by example – with optimism, acknowledgement and appreciation – has led to great results for our clients and personal and professional rewards for me. I have found that if I am optimistic, especially in more stressful times, people will step up, work hard, and go the extra mile. Extroverts may rule the world, but optimists really enjoy the ride.

3. Stay curious

‘Learning’ truly is the fountain of youth. We can’t learn if we’re not curious and if we’re not curious, we won’t find new ways of looking at things. And if we don’t find new ways of looking at things we don’t grow, evolve, or innovate. At Foundry Creative we challenge one another, ask questions, offer ideas and insights, bring others in to enlighten us, go on ‘well refill’ trips and share those experiences with each other.

4. Be courageous

I met a woman recently who picks bottles in the alley behind my home. Jen collects bottles not because she has to, but because she needs to go on a daily ‘walkabout’, like she did in her homeland (I know this because my husband was curious and asked). In her 60s, Jen is from the Congo, fluent in French and has the biggest smile I have ever come across. I am inspired because she has the courage to be who she is without fear of being judged by others. Courage can look like just getting up in the morning, standing up for an idea, stepping up to a challenge, or just admitting you’ve made a mistake. I made a mistake thinking Jen was not someone I would want to know. She is, and I think I am a better person for knowing her and sharing her story.

5. Laugh

It really is good medicine. It can calm a storm, break the ice, warm the heart, bridge a gap, and strengthen a relationship.

6. Keep everything in perspective

When asked ‘Is the glass half empty or half full?’ I believe it was Charles Saatchi of Saatchi and Saatchi who replied…’Who the hell cares – just drink it down and fill it up again!’ Perspective is a wonderful thing. It keeps us balanced, sane and free from being ruled by events that are out of our control. Hot baths and good wine also help.

So in the end, inspired leadership for me, starts with the desire to inspire someone else. Which means leaving something behind - and that’s a whole other story.