I have been fascinated by the huge debate that was going on between the Clinton and Obama camps on what is more important inspiration or execution. Just recently Hillary told us that she had a lifetime of experience and all that Obama had to bring to the discussion was one speech. His camp then takes the bate and gets into a who is more qualified on experience back and forth.
What is missing here is the fundamental issues of being a Leader vs. being a Politician. Politicians tend to tell people what they want to hear for self interest while leaders tell them what they need to hear for their own good.
At the very core of leadership is the need to change the status quo so that we can personally and professionally move to something better.
Change always requires people to be highly motivated to leave behind the familiar and move to the unknown. Bottom line, if you can not inspire people to action then all the strategic planning in the world will not make any difference.
One of my favorite quotes is by Thomas Watson, “nothing so conclusively proves a person’s ability to lead others as what they do from day to day to lead themselves.” So where are you in your personal journey? Are you in reality a politician who is accepting a whatever works mentality about life or have you chosen to be a leader who inspires change not only in yourself but in others along the way.