All it takes is the right conversation . . . Great leaders inspire action with their words. They spark enthusiasm and commitment. With a single conversation, they can change the direction of someone's life. Everyone wants to be the kind of leader who energizes and mobilizes others-yet too few are. Why is it so challenging to crack the code Executive coach Kristi Hedges spent years studying exactly what inspiring leaders do differently. Informed by quantitative research and thousands of responses from leaders at all levels, she reveals that inspiring communication isn't about grand gestures. Instead, those who motivate us most do a few things routinely, consistently, and intentionally. Eye-opening and accessible, The Inspiration Code dispels common myths about how leaders communicate-and guides them in cultivating qualities that authentically excite. Inspired companies need inspirational leaders. Learn to unlock motivation, lift peoples' sights, and lead them into the future.
Table of Contents:
INSPIRATION CODE
CONTENTS
Introduction xi
PART 1
Present: The Gift of Attention
1. Are You Talking to Me? 3
2. The Stories We Tell Ourselves While We're Falling Apart 21
3. Tricking Your Brain to Open Your Mind 41
PART 2
Personal: Putting Yourself into It
4. First, Keep it Real 61
5. Lifting Sights Toward Potential 81
6. The Quiet Influence of Listening 97
PART 3
Passionate: Bringing Heart and Energy
7. Your Energy Is Contagious 121
8. Moving Hearts Before Minds 137
9. Say It Like You Mean It 155
PART 4
Purposeful: Spotlighting Meaning
10. Purposeful Conversations 177
11. If You're Not Wearing It, You're Not Sharing It 199
12. The Call for Courage 215
Conclusion: You're Already in a Virtuous Cycle 231
Appendix: Leader's Prep Guide to Inspirational Communications 241
Acknowledgments 245
Notes 247
Index 255
About the Author 262
About the Author :
Kristi Hedges is a leadership coach, specializing in executive communications. Her clients span the Fortune 500, government, non-profits, and privately held businesses. An in-demand speaker, she writes for Forbes.com, and has been featured in The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and on CNBC, BBC, and more. She is the author of The Power of Presence.
Review :
..".an uplifting book. It leaves you feeling inspired and wanting to inspire others." -PM World Journal
.."..relying on a framework informed by hundreds of interviews, survey data and communications studies... [Inspiration Code] takes complex leadership concepts and translates them into actionable steps." - HR magazine
"I know of no other thought leader who offers more and better insights than Kristi Hedges does with regard to the process of developing a compelling presence." -San Francisco Review of Books
"This book is packed with insight on how to be a motivational and energizing leader, and it's impossible to put down." -Bryan Adams, Inc.
"Conversations as recommended by Ms. Hedges, will yield a strong workforce and higher productivity...One day, you'll look back and not believe how far your workplace come." --Santa Barbara Free-Press
..".thoughtful and insightful message to those in leadership positions regarding the manner in which they can develop ways of providing a methodology of encouragement." --Choice
..".all of us would love to say that we were inspired [at work]. Hedges shows leaders how to improve the odds of that happening with proven strategies for being more present, personal, passionate and purposeful in their conversations." --Hamilton Spectator
"Read it if you're looking for the secret to building an enthusiastic and committed team." --Connect Magazine Corporate
..".packed with information, inspiration, wisdom and practical applications...an absolute joy to read. I felt that Kristi was my personal coach and I loved every minute of it." --PW World Journal
..".will excite leaders who want to inspire their teams into action...provides a formula that empowers leaders to effectively tackle the three elements of inspiration: 'transcendence, motivation, and evocation.'" -TD magazine
"[Hedges's] extensive research and survey into what inspires people is fascinating." -Skip Prichard Leadership Insights
"Filled with profound insights and compelling data...Hedges uncovers a set of consistent, learnable behaviors that dramatically enhance leadership success." -- Eric Jacobson on Management and Leadership
"Hedges delivers an exceptional leadership book." -Success Magazine
"Hedges refutes common myths about executive leadership. She says what really moves people to action is genuine communication. With this message, Hedges delivers an exceptional leadership book." --Success magazine
"Can anyone be an inspiration? Kristi Hedges answers that question with a resounding yes. The Inspiration Code is a one-of-a-kind guide to becoming the kind of light-up-the-moment leader you aspire to be." --Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive
"We all know what inspiration feels like, but often struggle to find it. Here's a book that can help, with plenty of practical tips for having more energizing interactions."--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take
