I came across a very interesting quote this week from Frank Tibolt, “We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.”

This really had me thinking all week. I found myself creating arguments in support and against the quote. I was searching my memory for examples to support each perspective. As I thought about projects and initiatives I had engaged in or lead, it became clear that the best work I had completed as a leader did in fact start with inspiration.

I can think of a number of highly successful projects that began with a simple idea. An idea that became an obsession! Many of those ideas were bold to begin with and there was tremendous energy right from the beginning. In each case the energy grew as we moved into action and there was a flywheel effect.

I became somewhat resolved that I disagreed with the quote until I thought more deeply about my one-to-one leadership offerings and interactions. As I thought about experiences where I was coaching, mentoring or counselling individuals I came to the realization that the quote was more true than false.

[sws_picture_frame3 src=”http://clearconceptinc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/iStock_000006997429XSmall1-300×199.jpg” title=”” alt=”” align=”sws_frame_left” lightbox=”” album=”album” video=””] [/sws_picture_frame3] So many positive leadership experiences have arisen from situations where I was thrust into action to resolve an issue or problem without any forethought or warning. I was forced into “action” to deal with these situations immediately and really can’t recall having an pre-existing “inspiration” to do so. From this call to action, I was able to jump right in and take control of the situation. I was energized and felt extremely vital as I worked though things. Most of these situations became great lessons and examples I could rely on for future reference. The largest and most significant in terms of results became the most instructive and memorable. They have formed the critical “lessons learned” that I relay on every day now.

As for the quote, can we really be taught to take action and draw our inspiration from the action? Perhaps not formally but our experiences form the basis of our education and in that regard, perhaps we are in fact teaching ourselves by moving into action.

So much of what occurs for us as leaders happens in the moment without warning. We must be ready to act. I have learned over time that leaders are always in action. The trick is to learn from our experiences, to draw confidence from the experiences and inspiration from those learnings.