Motivation Through Leadership

By M. Isi Eromosele

Leadership is not what you do, but who you are. While leadership is very much who you are, it cannot be separated from what you do. Who you are represents the inner person, and what you do represents the outer person. Each is dependent on the other for maximum effectiveness.

The starting point of motivational leadership is for leaders to see themselves as role models, setting themselves as example to others. A key attribute of leaders is that they need to set high standards of accountability for themselves and for their behaviors.

They should assume that others are watching them and then set their own standards by what they do. They, in fact, should lead by example, taking daily actions for others to see and act on.

Motivational leadership is based on the Law of Indirect Effort. According to this law, most things in human life are achieved more easily by indirect means than they are by direct means.

You can more easily become a leader to others by demonstrating your qualities of leadership than you do by ordering others to follow your directions. Instead of trying to get people to emulate you, concentrate on living a life that is so admirable that others want to be like you without your commanding them to do so.

In business, there are two major bases of power. These are ascribed power and position power.

Ascribed power is the power a leader gains because of the kind of person they are. In every organization, there are people who acquire influence and are looked up to by others, even though their positions may not be very high up on the organizational hierarchy.

These are the men and women who are genuine leaders because of the quality of the people they have become, because of their characters and their personalities.

Position power is the power that comes with a job title, job description or simply position in an organization. When an individual is promoted to the position of a Manager in a firm, he/she inherits specific powers and privileges that come with their new position.

Powerful motivational leaders practice what is called “servant leadership.” These types of leaders see themselves as servants and as such, take all necessary actions to ensure that those under their direction perform at their full potential.

Effective leaders of today do not exude power, act cocky and bark orders for others to carry out. These most effective leaders ask questions, listen carefully, plan meticulously and build consensus among their staff on the way towards achieving their objectives.

They are highly successful because they work and guide others towards a collective fulfillment of desired goals that would benefit all.

The following are several great qualities of motivational leaders.

Vision

This is the most effectual attribute that distinguished leaders from followers. Leaders engender vision. Followers do not. Leaders have the ability to look at the bigger picture in every situation or scenario while followers are concerned with the activities of today.

Excitement | Commitment | Loyalty

An excellent way to motivate others is to transfer your motivation to them. The fastest way to get your team excited about a project is for you to exhibit excitement. As a leader, the way to get your team to commit itself to achieving goals is to show total commitment yourself.

Building loyalty within an organization requires a leader to act by example through showing loyalty in all their actions.

A true leader should have the courage to step away from the familiar and comfortable and face the unknown with great confidence and optimism. It is this ability to lead without fear that distinguishes a leader from the line staff.

A leader should set an example that inspires and motivates his/her staff to rise above their previous levels and strive to accomplish goals to their full potential.

M. Isi Eromosele is the President | Chief Executive Officer | Executive Creative Director of Oseme Group - Oseme Creative | Oseme Consulting | Oseme Finance

Copyright Control © 2011 Oseme Group