An effective leader is one that can inspire others. But the word “inspire” has a dual meaning…
Check out the International Academy of Public Safety website, and their affiliate site www.icommandacademy.com, which features “yours truly” on the Instructors page. The Police Dynamics Institute is partnering with IAPS to produce a series of leadership videos, so stay tuned for more information…
When I inspire, I inhale. When I expire, I exhale. When I exhale for the last time, I have expired…! But think about the process of inspiration. When I expand my rib cage and my diaphragm, I create a low pressure system, a vacuum, within my chest cavity and air rushes in.
The question is: does the high pressure system outside of my body “push” the air into my lungs; or does the vacuum I have created inside my body “pull” the air in? Most scientists will tell us that a vacuum seeks to be filled. So it’s not that the outside pressure forces the air into my lungs. What happens is that I have created an environment where the air “wants” to rush in. It doesn’t have to be forced. It occurs quite naturally.
Dynamic leadership works the same way. By creating an environment that is conducive to change, your team wants to follow you. It is as natural as breathing. When the status quo is no longer acceptable, people are looking for a change. All they need is a leader to inspire them in the right direction. So it’s not like you are behind them cracking a whip and trying to force change. An inspirational leader is out front, casting a vision, and drawing others to follow him due to his character, charisma, integrity, and example…