by John Brooker | Feb 19, 2012 | Innovate
YES! AND… Creative Gorilla # 51 The key role of a creative leader is to inspire others. To inspire others we can express ourselves, alternatively our tacit behaviour may inspire more. “Leadership is based on inspiration, not domination; on cooperation not intimidation” William Arthur Wood (An earthenware manufacturer) Who has quietly inspired you recently? You may have seen a story (click here if you haven’t) about Buster Martin, a man who celebrated his 100th birthday at work, having worked almost every day of his life since the age of ten. There’s an inspiration for others. Or you may have seen the deeply uninspiring leadership debate in the UK Government (Please click here to read it). These and recent events in my life led me to reflect on the whole issue of inspiration. Riding my bike around my favourite lake, letting my mind ramble, I concluded that to inspire others (to encourage people into greater efforts or greater enthusiasm or creativity) is the crux of creative leadership, something which appears to be sadly lacking in much of the world’s political leadership. How might we inspire others? What do you think? It’s not difficult to recognise two ways; one is to be expressive, using inspiring words, (e.g. Henry V to his men at Harfleur courtesy of Shakespeare, , or Martin Luther King’s 1963 speech titled “I Have a Dream”). The other is through behaviour, e.g. the expressive behaviour of the football team captain, inspiring his team by fighting for every ball, his energy infecting others. As I rode I decided that words can only truly inspire if one has...
