Business Skills

Leadership

Summary: Becoming an inspirational leader

A common characteristic of great leaders is the ability to inspire. The following simple framework outlines some techniques distilled from great leaders.

Before speech:

Businesswoman and businessman discuss exchange documents
  • Set goal: A leader inspires and motivates himself and others. An overlooked issue is the choice of goal. A goal that creates internal conflicts will be demotivating - draining energy and power. External conflicts of interest between members of the group will make it difficult to unify and inspire. A wise leader will choose his goals carefully to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
  • Manage yourself: Even with a well-designed goal, it may be necessary to overcome doubts, nervousness or other emotional problems. An emotionally confident leader can then manage others by creating a generally positive emotional atmosphere.
  • Create message: A skillful leader is sensitive to the interests of others and able to mold these diffuse interests into a common group identity. Sometimes this is a matter of framing.
  • Develop persuasion strategy: Metaphors and stories are an effective way to engage people with your cause. It is no accident that metaphors and stories have been used so much by historical leaders - from Jesus to Martin Luther King. An effective metaphor not only enhances understanding, but is also uses the powerful persuasive techniques of framing and emotion. The keys to influence can also be incorporated.

During speech:

  • Establish rapport: First, the speaker must command the attention of his audience. No matter how great the message, if the audience is not paying attention it will not resonate. Second, he has to be in rapport with his audience. To do this, the speech should initially be relatively low-key - possibly making use of humor to build a connection. Once an emotional link with the audience is established, it can build to one or more emotional climaxes. Most great speeches follow this basic pattern.
  • Use language effectively: The language of inspirational speeches is vague and emotional - the language of the heart - and avoids specific or concrete language that would engage the mind and break the emotional spell.