Be Inspiring: Why Leaders Are Obligated to Move Others

When you decide to become a leader, you are making a choice to influence other people. How you approach that fact makes a big difference

Leaders are game changers. They influence, inspire, and move. This is why you if you’re going to be an effective leader, need to be deliberate. People will listen to you, so you have to make it count. Every time.

John DiJulius III, a best-selling author and founder of the DiJulius Group, said that his life purpose is to “live an extraordinary life so that others will.” This means that people are looking to you for advice and guidance, and you must live up to the hype.

So why do leaders have this obligation, and how do they follow through?

Leaders make a choice

DiJulius says that when you choose to become a leader, you choose to give up the right to make excuses.

This is the foundation of why a leader has an obligation to other people – because you are making a choice to make a difference. While charisma is something many people are born with, you alone can choose what you’re going to do with that talent and influence.

Some people choose to do nothing with it, while others choose to lead with only selfish motivations. This kind of leader can become a tyrant who treats followers unfairly or manipulates them.

But no matter your motivations for leading others, you have a responsibility to the people. And you have chosen to bear this responsibility.

Leaders must deliver

To be an effective leader, remember that you must deliver on each and every one of your promises. It’s part of the job. It’s not enough to just state your objectives and goals.

DiJulius says that “we all have seeds of potential and the seeds of potential that we don’t grow to their fullest potential…cheats all the people that are dependent on us.”

Don’t cheat others by failing to deliver on your promises.

Leaders are risk-takers

Leaders see potential where other people don’t. They see the end building before the concrete has even been laid. They see the potential for a fortune in a dollar. They see important niches to explore, and growth opportunities even in hard months.

Because the average employee may not see these same opportunities, leaders are obligated to show them. And, to help them pave all the avenues to get there.

Leaders must be honest

If a promise isn’t fulfilled or if there is a slip up along the way, a good leader will admit his or her mistake and turn it into a learning opportunity.

People will look to you for answers when something goes wrong, and it’s always better to be honest than to cover something up. People appreciate when leaders are able to show their faults and take the blame for a mess up.

This builds up trust with followers, which is a crucial element of leading effectively. People will trust what you say even if you lie, so it’s even more important to tell the truth. Always. It’s your obligation to do what’s right for others and to make a difference.

Only by telling the truth and being sincere can you affect real, positive change.

People won’t move without a leader

Leaders often set the tone for productivity, especially in the workplace. If a leader comes in late to work, others won’t feel motivated to get there on time. If a leader isn’t concerned about setting goals, workers won’t feel motivated to challenge themselves. If a leader cuts corners, followers may see no reason not to.

Without a leader who moves, people won’t reach as high as they should. A good leader also motivates others, and then steps aside, allowing others to find their own strengths.

Leaders should inspire others to keep moving forward through tough times, not to give up when the slightest hiccup comes along. Leaders should set an example in their own lives to show people that they follow through on words with thoughtful actions.

It’s not enough to make lofty statements and then stay still. Live an extraordinary life so that others will, too.

Paper Napkin Wisdom is a treasure trove of advice like this from leading CEOs and entrepreneurs. Founder Govindh Jayaraman asked hundreds of these experts to write down their one piece of advice on a napkin, and he shares these nuggets of wisdom on the Paper Napkin Wisdom blog and podcast.