Inspiring

Today I’ve chosen the word ‘inspire’ from the small bowl of words that sits on my desk. I often pick one at the start of the day, not to analyse it academically, but to let it work on me quietly in the background. Inspire is one of those words that reveals more the longer you sit with it.

Its roots are wonderfully literal. The word comes from the Latin ‘inspirare’: ‘in’ meaning ‘into’ and ‘spirare’ meaning ‘to breathe.’ To inspire is, quite simply, to breathe life into something. Long before it meant motivation or vision, it was about the breath itself. That feels important. Breath is what sustains us, steadies us, and brings us back to ourselves when things feel tight or overwhelming.

That connection between breath and insight has always resonated with me. Some of my best ideas haven’t come when I’ve been pushing hard or trying to force an answer, but when I’ve stepped away. When I’ve stopped wrestling with a problem and allowed myself to exhale. In those moments of letting go — on a walk, in the garden, or simply pausing between meetings — something shifts. The mind relaxes, perspective widens, and insight quietly arrives. Inspiration, quite literally, follows the breath.

We are also inspired by other people. By their courage to stand for something, their willingness to say what needs to be said, or the clarity of their thinking. Great leaders have this quality. Not because they are always the loudest voice in the room, but because they are anchored in their values. They inspire through consistency, integrity, and the way they live what they believe, especially when it would be easier not to.

Yet inspiration has a shadow side

And it’s one we don’t talk about often enough. It’s surprisingly easy to be swept up by charisma, by someone who speaks well, projects confidence, or promises certainty in uncertain times. History and modern organisations alike are full of examples of leaders who inspired devotion, but not always for the right reasons. When inspiration is driven by ego rather than service, it can quietly pull people off course.

That’s why the word inspire carries such weight for me. Because with the ability to inspire comes responsibility. As leaders, the question is not just can we inspire others, but to what end? Are we breathing life into ideas that serve something bigger than ourselves? Are we inviting others to think, to grow, to contribute,  or simply to follow?

This question sits at the heart of the work I do with senior executives. Many of the leaders I work with are deeply capable, committed people who have lost touch with the very thing that once inspired them. Buried under pressure, deadlines, and relentless demands on their time and energy, their leadership becomes reactive rather than intentional. And when that happens, inspiration — both for themselves and others — quietly drains away.

Reconnecting with inspiration doesn’t require grand gestures or rousing speeches. Often it starts much more simply. With a pause. With space to breathe. With the courage to ask, “What actually matters now?” From there, leaders can begin to articulate a clearer point of view, reconnect with their values, and lead in a way that naturally inspires trust and engagement.

So my invitation today is a gentle one. Notice where you are holding your breath, mentally or emotionally. Notice where you might need to let go rather than push harder. And reflect on this: the way you lead, speak, and show up each day is already inspiring others in some way. The real choice is whether that inspiration is rooted in ego, or in service.

Because when inspiration is grounded in purpose and values, it doesn’t just motivate. It breathes life. Into people, ideas, and the impact you’re here to make.

If you’d like space to pause, reconnect with what truly matters, and lead in a way that inspires without burning you out, let’s have a conversation — book a call here.