How you can inspire others through your actions
I got asked this great question the other day, the question was “How can leaders inspire others through their actions”? After sitting with it before I responded. Here’s where I went with my thought.
Leadership is a tricky thing. It’s not a title. It’s not authority. It’s not the loudest voice in the room, sometimes it can in fact be the quietest. It’s influence. And influence isn’t something you demand, it’s something you earn.
But how do you earn it?
By leading yourself first.
The Mirror Test
Have you ever worked for someone who said one thing and did another? A manager who talked about “teamwork” but at the drop of a hat, took credit for everything? A leader who preached “work-life balance” but expected you to answer emails at all hours, or said they didn’t expect it, but continually emailed you after hours and on weekends? Yeah I know, It’s frustrating. It’s demoralizing. And worst of all, it destroys trust.
Now flip that around — have you ever had a leader who lived their values? Someone who showed up, even when or especially when it was hard. Someone who admitted when they were wrong. Someone who walked the path first instead of pushing others down it.
That’s a leader that people want to follow. So, what’s the difference between the two? The second person passed The Mirror Test.
The Mirror Test is simple: If you had to work for yourself, would you be happy about it?
If the answer is yes, great. Keep going, you are likely on the right track. If the answer is no, it’s time for some honest self-reflection. Because leadership isn’t about pointing fingers. It starts with looking in the mirror.
Stoicism and Self-Leadership
The Stoics figured this out thousands of years ago. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and philosopher, wrote, “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” In other words, stop talking about what a good leader should do — and start doing it.
Stoicism is built on the idea that we don’t control the world, but we do control ourselves — our thoughts, our actions, our reactions. In a sense, Leadership is no different.
Want your team to be accountable? Be accountable, own your mistakes first.
Want your team to be adaptable? Be adaptable, show them what it looks like to embrace change.
Want your team to be resilient? Be resilient, model calm, and discipline under pressure.
Leaders set the tone, whether they realize it or not. It can so often be the problem and the solution. You don’t inspire people by what you say. You inspire them by what you do.
The Hardest Part, Show Up When It’s Hard
It’s easy to lead when things are going well. When the numbers are up, when customers are happy, when everyone is in sync — it doesn’t take much to stand tall in those moments.
But what about when things start to go sideways? When a big deal falls through, when a client is furious when your team is overwhelmed? That’s when real leadership shows up.
People don’t watch you in the easy moments. They watch you when it’s hard. Do you stay calm, or do you panic? Do you blame others or take responsibility? Do you fold under pressure or find a way forward?
Seneca, another Stoic philosopher, said, “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” In leadership, every hard moment is an opportunity to grow, to build trust, to model resilience, to prove that your values aren’t just words on a wall, they are actions.
No One Follows a Hypocrite
Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency.
I was once told if you want to be great, be good consistently. Consistency will always be intensity!
If you say you value transparency but avoid hard conversations, people notice.
If you say you value teamwork but let egos run unchecked, people notice.
If you say you value growth but never push yourself, people notice.
That’s the thing with Leadership, it’s not a place to hide.
It doesn’t mean you have to get everything right. It just means you have to be honest when you don’t. Leadership is about alignment — between what you say and what you do.
Because here’s the truth: No one follows a hypocrite. But people will follow someone who owns their mistakes, learns from them, and keeps moving forward.
Inspire, Don’t Demand
The best leaders don’t need to force people to follow them. They don’t need to use fear, authority, or manipulation. People follow them because they want to.
Why?
Because real leadership creates belief. It makes people feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. It gives them a reason to care, a reason to push through the hard days, a reason to give their best.
And that starts with you.
So, the next time you find yourself wondering how to inspire others, don’t start with words. Start with action.
Because the best leaders don’t need to convince people to follow them. They just walk the path — and others naturally fall in step.