Leadership That Inspires and Empowers
I’m writing this post on Martin Luther King Day and Inauguration Day, 2025, as a way to process, reflect, and feel inspired and empowered to charge ahead. I use these words intentionally because they connect to two books I’ve read recently that challenge us to be leaders who empower and inspire others. These books serve as powerful reminders that even if we don’t always have the leaders we want, we can be the leaders our communities need: leaders who uplift, inspire, and empower.
In Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others, Adam Galinsky reminds us that inspiring leaders are not born, they’re made. Leadership theories often attempt to box us into rigid styles or paradigms, but Galinsky’s research emphasizes that inspirational leadership is accessible to everyone. He identifies three key traits that we can all embody in our daily lives:
Visionary – How we see the world. This satisfies the need for meaning and understanding, providing a sense of direction and purpose.
Exemplar – How we present ourselves in the world. This satisfies the need for passion and protection, modeling behaviors and values worth following.
Mentor – How we interact with others. This satisfies the need for belonging, fostering connection and support.
Galinsky encourages us to actively reach out to others. A simple but transformative practice he recommends is to acknowledge and celebrate people’s efforts. Be intentional and specific—let someone know when they’ve done a great job. Express gratitude generously. He even suggests an exercise: write three emails to individuals with less power than you, thanking them for something specific they’ve done. Small acts like these build a culture of appreciation and recognition.
Meanwhile, Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss challenges us to rethink leadership itself. Frei and Morriss argue that the most important thing you do as a leader is to build others up. Leadership isn’t about you, they assert, it’s about how effectively you empower those around you.
They reframe leadership as a tool for enabling others to reach their fullest potential. The most impactful leaders prioritize fostering growth, empowerment, and success in those they lead. This requires trust, clear communication, and an unwavering commitment to creating an environment where others can thrive.
Both books underscore a profound truth: Leadership is an active, deliberate practice that we can all engage in no matter our title or position. By embracing a visionary mindset, leading by example, and mentoring with intentionality, we can inspire and empower those around us. Don’t despair in the leaders we may have, rejoice in the leaders we can be.