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LRC Email – Leadership and Inspiration

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Here’s the email I sent to leaders in Reno County on Monday, 8/19/13:

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for your continued care for me in the aftermath of the flooding we experienced 2 weeks ago.  Many of you have checked in and continue to be an encouragement to me and, thus, my family.  I’m very grateful to be a part of this community.  And, it’s inspiring, which gets me to our thought for today.
A recent communication card from the KLC asks about the connection of inspiration with leadership.  The answer: “Inspire means ‘to exert an animating, enlivening or exalting influence.’ Something got you fired up.  Now you must motivate others through your words and example.  If you hope to make progress on a daunting, adaptive challenge you cannot do it alone.”  I’m wondering how inspiring our words and actions are, actually.

I’ve had some conversations recently with people who are plenty fired up about a great many things, but their words and actions aren’t moving toward a purpose.  One was fed up with a recent Brownback policy, another couldn’t believe Obama had done this or that thing.  Across the board (and more than likely all the way down to our local level), people get fired up about a great many things.  But, how we act in light of being fired up may help or hinder progress.  So, this Monday AM, what are you fired up about?  How are you speaking and acting?  And, what might you do to be more purposeful, to step into the arena of inspiration, so that progress is made?  Consider these things and, better yet, act on them and see if it doesn’t help move our community along.