ABSTRACT

Leadership is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration. Inspiration has a connection with caring in that what inspires us, both shapes and reflects what leaders care about. To persist, the leaders need energy, and inspiration may be the most potent if not the most prevalent, source. In this chapter, the leaders suggest that to reach higher, they need to understand their passions, be open to being inspired to creating the circumstances to foster that. Here are two thoughts: Reasoning is the water that puts out the fire of inspiration and putting yourself in the company of inspiring people is great. Wartime Britain used the phrase 'digging for victory' and for leadership this means digging deeper by showing grit and determination. Reaching higher and digging deeper are both actions that call for courage, so maybe they should ask ourselves whether, if they rarely feel uncomfortable or need to use our courage, they are actually engaging in leadership at all.