12 Traits That Inspire Deep Loyalty

Your Team Will Go Through Brick Walls

Have you ever had a leader that inspires deep loyalty in you?

It’s that rare individual who not only inspires, but has an unwavering belief in you.  You don’t want to let this person down.  You go the extra mile because you want to prove you can do it.


“A leader must inspire or his team will expire.” -Orrin Woodward



You have certainly experienced the opposite.  The person who wears the title of leader, but you are unwilling to do more than the minimum.

What is it about a leader that makes you want to go through brick walls?  What can you do to become that person and inspire your team?

A leader who inspires performance is one who:

1. Believes

A leader who believes in you fuels the success engine.  When you put your belief in someone, he will generally rise to the challenge. Your belief acts as an inoculation against doubt.

“A leader who believes in you fuels the success engine.” -Skip Prichard


2. Cheerleads

A leader who is an encouraging force inspires. Cheer someone along and that person will want to win.

Leadership Tip: Double your encouragement and it’s likely to still not be enough.


3. Praises

Publicly or privately, when you praise someone, watch what happens. I’m talking genuine praise at just the right level and delivered at just the right time. Too much and it loses its power, but it’s next to impossible to hit a “too much” level.



4. Communicates

When you practice open, honest and direct communication, you increase trust. A lack of communication is the cause of more problems in an organization than you can imagine.



5. Teaches

When you teach concepts and share examples, it makes a difference in your organization and in your people. The best leaders are teachers. Not always obviously or in your face, but everyone is learning because the leader is teaching.

Leadership Tip: the best leaders are teachers.


6. Models

When you model the way, it inspires everyone around you. You simply cannot say one thing and do another. Do what you say you will do. Don’t ask your followers to do one thing while you are doing another.

“Consistently doing what you say you will do is the foundation of integrity.” -Skip Prichard


7. Promotes

When you promote and advocate on someone’s behalf, it creates loyalty. That person knows you have her back and that you are advocating on her behalf. Publicly sharing successes and attributing someone’s good work makes a difference.

8. Delegates

Delegate the right amount and check in periodically. Delegating is the opposite of micromanaging. It sends a powerful signal that you trust someone will get the job done.



9. Blocks

A leader blocks people from what’s unnecessary, draining, and wasteful. If you block your organization from political nonsense or unnecessary bureaucracy, you will have a higher-performing team.

Leadership tip: Block unnecessary political nonsense for a higher-performing team.


10. Supports

It seems obvious, but providing support is crucial. It’s not enough to agree and walk away. Think, “Let’s go do it” not, “You go do it.” Be a bedrock of support and watch loyalty skyrocket.


11. Provides

You need to provide the right level of resources and support. This can be tricky because innovation often happens with a lack of resources, so watch carefully and be thoughtful.


12. Duplicates

A leader who wants to develop an exceptional organization is one who duplicates herself.  She is not content until others are able to inspire at the same level.

“Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” -Tom Peters



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