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One Of The Most Inspiring Leaders Ever

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: This is an ode to one of the most inspirational leaders I've ever known: my wife. And since I've had the privilege to meet and work with a surprising number of the world's best business leaders over the past several years, calling her that is saying something....

One Of The Most Inspiring Leaders Ever

And I'm Not Just Saying That For Marital Bliss' Sake This is an ode to one of the most inspirational leaders I've ever known: my wife. And since I've had the privilege to meet and work with a surprising number of the world's best business leaders over the past several years, calling her that is saying something.

She doesn't like to be fussed over, so I won't identify her here... but my wife is retiring today after twenty-one years in her most recent job, as a top executive in a large local-government agency. She'll still practice law, but only as and when she likes; believe me, they will miss her. They've all said so.

Some own a business, some are consultants, and some labor as senior and emerging leaders in organizations of every stripe - but most of my clients want to be more inspirational as leaders. No matter what you do, if being more inspring is your aspiration, you could certainly take a lesson from a leader like my wife. She's extremely competent, as anyone who's ever worked with her (and, perhaps especially, anyone who's ever opposed her in court) would eagerly attest. But it's her strong character that makes her one of the most inspiring leaders I've ever known. In a world (indeed, in a profession) where it's extremely difficult to live up to high standards and an impeccable set of values, she always does.

Technically, I wasn't invited to her retirement ceremony this afternoon, but I'll be crashing it all the same. And I wasn't asked to make any speeches - I'm sure other more luminous dignitaries will be handling those duties. So I'll say it here, for the benefit of my readers and coachees who seek more inspiration to be more inspirational. And I don't make these comments to flatter my wife, or to whisper sweet cyber-nothings in her ear. Frankly, my opinion of her as a leader is based solely on my intimate knowledge of the way she's conducted her professional affairs throughout her career. It's been important to me to get to know her from that perspective, because after my first marriage, I promised myself I'd never marry anyone who wasn't of unimpeachable character... and I do think you have to exhibit such character in every part of your life, not just at home.

Students of inspirational leadership, there are only two things that make my wife so special, and worthy of your attention: who she is, and what she does.

As for the former, she is a person who, while flawed like the rest of us, has a character without structural fault. She does the little things, she does the difficult things, she does the boring things that build deep expertise. But beyond that, she is one of the few truly good people you'd ever meet. I can give her no more ringing endorsement than to say she is a person not only that I love sharing my life with, but a person I would want to BE, if I weren't myself. I wish my adult offspring such awesome luck as I've had in finding a life partner: make it someone you'd be willing to be.

And as for what she does, it's also simple (though not very easy at times): my wife ALWAYS does the right thing. Always. Always!

I wish my coachees the sort of luck I've had in finding role models: make them people who do the right thing. And if you find someone who ALWAYS does the right thing, get next to that person and learn from him or her everything you can. You will never regret it.

And if you can, get that person to share your life! You'll never be far from the best earthly form of inspiration ever known, and as a leader (or, indeed, as a human being), you can't go wrong with that.

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Article Tags: entrepreneurship, health wealth and happiness, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility



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