How to recognize inspirational leadership

Hint: Bring out the best in you

Frances Fox Piven, an elderly former teacher and far-left activist, stood in front of a small group of protesters currently participating in the “Occupy Wall Street” event. Piven, who in her youth championed (seriously) a plan to “crash the system” in America under the weight of big government rights, is something of an icon for the left. And now her peers are closer than ever to achieving the goals she has worked toward during her career.

When he addressed the meeting, he did not (as far as I hear) talk about any content, or deliver any ideas, or present any arguments. What Professor Piven delivered was more like the kind of invocations or prayers you hear in church. And the group, in a church-like call and response style, repeated after her, word for word. It sounded like singing. Frankly, it sounded flat and resigned, like a bunch of zombies.

If you read the professor’s work from decades ago, you learn that she was in favor of replacing the American system of free-market capitalism with collectivism and statism, very little different from the systems tried in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. But I haven’t heard her talk about it these days. At least not with this crowd. Her only exhortations to the Wall Street crowd have been about tearing down the current system… not to mention what she would have in its place.

I bet there are plenty of protesters occupying Wall Street today who would describe Frances Fox Piven as an inspirational leader. I don’t see it. I see her as an agitator, nothing more. Why? Because every time someone puts a microphone in the face of one of her followers occupying her, she’ll tell you what she’s up against (“everything” as one young man put it)… but usually, not they know what they are to her.

The line is sometimes blurred between inspirational leadership and run-of-the-mill agitation. When leaders stand on soapboxes and deliver impassioned speeches, the words and tone often sound the same. But for me, the difference between restlessness and true inspirational leadership is often found over time. If you follow something and it makes you a better person, that was inspirational leadership. If it highlights your less desirable qualities, it probably wasn’t.

Inspirational leadership nurtures your inner entrepreneur—the part of you that wants to take risks, be creative, build something new, open opportunities for yourself and others, and care for those around you. Many entrepreneurs start a business and create wealth. Instead, agitation brings out and feeds your inner Victim: the part of you that wants to blame others, be destructive, criticize, grab what you can (because you’re entitled to whatever you can get), and hope that take care of it of. Many Victims sit in unproductive protest, today in places like Wall Street.

If it’s against what you’re supposed to be against, it’s agitation. If it’s more about what you’re for, it could be inspirational leadership. If it prompts you to attack people and institutions, it’s probably agitation. If it invites you to stand up for people and institutions, or for your most deeply held values ​​and principles, it is probably inspiring leadership.

As you progress, if you like more and more the person you are and the person you’re becoming, that’s inspirational leadership. If you start doing things you’re not proud of, it’s not. And that’s the bottom line: Inspirational leadership leads you to be your best self, over time. Anything that gets you less than that, even if it’s not your absolute worst, falls short of true inspirational leadership.

So if, like many of my clients, you aspire to be an inspirational leader, think about what you’re trying to get out of your followers. Inspire your inner Entrepreneurs, so they can win the fight against your inner Victims (a fight we all face). Talk about positive values ​​and principles, and avoid negative complaints about the world we all have to deal with (complaining won’t change the world in a good way, but inspiration will). Being for something, not just against everything. Defend the good more than you attack the bad. Be your best self, in word and deed, and invite others to do the same.

Today, on Wall Street (and on all streets), there are two types of people. Everyone sees The Street as in need of repair. Some are working on The Street… some are just occupying it.

Which will you choose to be today?