Have you ever been inspired to work harder or faster by someone? What separates these leaders that inspire us from those who lead in name only? As a leadership student, practitioner, trainer and evaluator for over 25 years, there seems to be at least three things almost always standout. First, inspiring leaders have a clear vision for what they want to accomplish. Second, inspiring leaders clearly and consistently communicate both their vision and specific expectations to all their constituents. Third, inspired leaders are generous – with their time, with their praise, and with their willingness to help those who are trying. In this respect, inspired leaders are extraordinarily efficient – they cut through the drama and focus on the data — with the goal of developing stronger people and delivering better results, faster and cheaper. The good news for you is that … there are specific tools and techniques that can be coached, that can be built into young (as well as more ‘experienced’) managers that are asked to ‘lead’ for the first time.