{
  "id": 2321218,
  "title": "Leading & motivating (I)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/leading-motivating-i",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T06:30:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghanaian Times",
    "slug": "ghanaian-times",
    "url": "https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/leading-motivating-i-2/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Brian Tracy asserts that leadership is fundamentally about who a person is, but it cannot be separated from their actions. These two aspects are interconnected for optimal effectiveness. The foundation of motivational leadership is cultivating oneself as a role model, serving as a benchmark for others. View oneself as an exemplar who sets benchmarks others emulate. A core trait of leaders is their strict self-accountability standards and their belief that others observe and emulate their behavior. Motivational leadership is anchored in the Principle of Indirect Effort, which posits that most human achievements are best attained via indirect methods rather than direct ones. To become a leader, demonstrate the qualities of leadership rather than commanding others to follow your lead. Instead of prompting others to imitate you, dedicate efforts to embodying a life so commendable that others naturally aspire to be like you without your explicit request. In the business realm, there exist multiple types of influence. Two such forms are ascribed power and position power. Position power stems from one's job title or rank within an organization. Upon assuming a managerial role, certain privileges and powers become inherent. While possessing authority, one can still lead regardless of popular opinion. Ascribed power is derived from one's inherent qualities. Organizations often harbor individuals who command significant influence and admiration, irrespective of their high-ranking positions. These individuals are genuine leaders due to their distinctive character and personality. The most effective way to inspire others is to embody motivation yourself. The quickest means to instill enthusiasm for a project is by displaying genuine excitement. To engender commitment towards a goal or outcome, one must demonstrate unwavering dedication. Loyalty to an organization and fellow individuals is fostered by exemplifying loyalty in all verbal and conduct aspects. These elements converge with the attribute of vision. Leadership necessitates the ability to select an area of excellence. Similar to a competent general choosing a battlefield, exceptional leaders opt for an area where they and their team can achieve superior outcomes. Commitment to excellence stands as one of the most potent motivators. Leaders who effectuate change in people and organizations exhibit enthusiasm for achieving excellence in a specific domain. The most compelling vision for oneself and others is \"Be the best!\" Many individuals remain unaware that delivering exceptional service to others constitutes an indispensable, fundamental prerequisite for survival in tomorrow's economy. \"Many individuals and businesses still cling to the notion that being no worse than others suffices for business continuity. This is prehistoric thinking. We now reside in the era of excellence.\" Customers presume receiving superior quality, and if not met, will gravitate towards competing enterprises. As a leader, the objective is to excel in one's domain and epitomize the best in the chosen field. This entails setting high standards in service to people, exemplifying excellence in behavior while simultaneously transmitting it to others, thus fostering commitment to the vision. This encapsulates the essence of servant leadership, emphasizing the commitment to delivering work of unparalleled quality for the benefit of others, both within and outside the organization. Today's leadership mandates equal emphasis on the individuals executing the task and those who stand to gain from the endeavor. The most impactful motivational leaders embody the concept of \"servant leadership.\" Confucius remarked, \"He who desires to be a master must first serve all.\" Leaders who regard themselves as servants and exert maximum effort to aid others in attaining their full potential exemplify the pinnacle of servant leadership. Throughout history, society has been indoctrinated into believing that leaders are bold, powerful figures who issue commands and delegate responsibilities. However, this perspective is outdated. Modern leaders are those who inquire, listen attentively, strategize meticulously, and subsequently forge consensus among all stakeholders essential for goal attainment. Tracy identifies five key attributes of motivational leaders. These qualities are inherent to varying degrees and can be further honed to distinguish oneself swiftly from peers. Vision constitutes the first attribute, distinguishing leaders from followers by the ability to perceive the broader perspective. Followers are engrossed in immediate tasks, while leaders maintain focus on the horizon, identifying boundless opportunities. Integrity ranks second, recognized as the most esteemed quality of leaders. Integrity embodies absolute, unwavering honesty in all verbal and conduct aspects. It underpins all other qualities. The measure of integrity is determined by one's honesty in crucial life aspects. Integrity signifies that when queried at day's end, \"Did you give your utmost?\" one can confidently affirm \"Yes.\"",
  "summary": "BRIAN Tracy believes that leadership is very much who you are, but it cannot be divorced from what you do. Who you are represents the inner person, and what you do represents the outer person. Each is dependent on the other for maximum effectiveness. The starting point of motivational leadership is to begin seeing yourself … The post Leading & motivating (I) appeared first on Ghanaian Times .",
  "key_points": [
    "Leadership is about who a person is, not just actions",
    "Motivational leadership stems from indirect effort principle",
    "Servant leadership emphasizes serving others for mutual benefit"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}