Inspirational leaders have led the world’s people through difficult times and when great change was afoot. Finding the words to guide and inspire others is no easy task, and it involves knowing what challenges face your audience, as well as what will help motivate and encourage them.
Some great leaders who have managed to hit the nail on the head with their speeches and sayings include Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Theodore Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Winston Churchill.
Finding the words of encouragement for a leader isn’t always easy, and today, most leaders have a team of psychologists, thought leaders, and talented writers to help write their speeches and develop an inspiring narrative. But ultimately, the words of inspiration and encouragement from a leader can change the course of history.
Discover the words of encouragement for a leader to help inspire others, and perhaps, these can inspire you too.
Why Give Words of Encouragement?
Words of encouragement help motivate, uplift, and empower people. Hearing words of encouragement assures you that you’re not alone, that your efforts don’t go unseen, and that you matter.
Leaders have a public platform, which means they are ideally placed to do massive good with a few words of encouragement.
How Do Leaders Use Words of Encouragement?
Leaders use words of encouragement to unite their people, comfort them in times of need, and foster a sense of unity. “We are all people, we all go through things, and together we can stand strong” is at the heart of their messages.
Finding the right words to say to someone to uplift them can be a real challenge, and our leaders have to do it daily.
Here are some great words of encouragement for a leader to help inspire others.
51 Words of Encouragement for a Leader to Help Inspire Others
No matter the reason for speaking, a leader must always offer encouragement to those who look up to them. These 51 examples will help empower your leaders and also encourage them.
Inspiration from a Leader to Women
1. “All girls know that they can be anything now. That transformation is to me one of the most satisfying things.” ~Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Former President of Liberia)
2. You need only look in the mirror to see your true power. Deep inside, you are courageous, and you can move mountains if needed.
3. While times may seem dark, there is always light inside us, and women are the beacons of the world. Let our light never go out.
4. “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” ~ William Makepeace Thackeray
5. We speak of money and gold, but the real treasure of our world lies in the women who give rise to the great leaders, wise thinkers, and courageous hearts of our people. Women, we salute you.
We speak of money and gold, but the real treasure of our world lies in the women who give rise to the great leaders, wise thinkers, and courageous hearts of our people. Women, we salute you. “
6. Each step of the journey takes you closer to your destination; just focus on one step at a time.
7. There is courage in the heart of every man, but that courage began in the heart of every mother; therefore, cherish your mother, sister, and wife.
8. “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” ~ B. R. Ambedkar
9. “A woman is like a tea bag – you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
10. When I think of my mother, I am reminded of all the potential I was born with, and I remember that she believed in me from the start. All I am, I am because of my mother.
Inspiration from a Leader to Men
11. No suffering is in vain if it’s in the name of true greatness, so don’t hide from pain because it’s hard. True reward lies ahead.
12. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
13. Let us remind young men how to take responsibility, own their destiny, and expand their minds so they can become reflections in the mirror they can be proud of.
14. We, the men of society, need to make our own luck, break new ground, and achieve greatness according to the heart inside us.
15. “If you're going through hell, keep going.” ~ Winston Churchill
16. Each contribution that man makes, no matter how small, builds the world into the paradise we would make it.
17. Find your purpose in life, and you’ve found a life worth living. Discover your passion in life, and you’re building a life that you can be passionate about.
18. Decide today what virtues you would pursue: respect, honor, peace, and you will become mightier than any adversary or challenge because you’ve found what beats on your heart like a drum.
19. “Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.” ~ Charles de Gaulle
20. All men are brothers, and all humanity is one family, but even brothers fight and families quarrel, so choose to be the quiet uncle who learned, listened, and stood his ground.
Inspiration to Children
21. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
22. No matter how young you are, there is always truth inside your heart, happiness on your lips, and peace in your mind when you live a life that is guided by a mother or father who loves you.
23. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I'm possible'!” ~ Audrey Hepburn
24. “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” ~ Theodore Hesburgh
25. Teachers are strict old ladies who have raised children they didn’t give birth to, loved those who despised them, and felt pride when their task was done and their children had turned into fine men and women.
Teachers are strict old ladies who have raised children they didn’t give birth to, loved those who despised them, and felt pride when their task was done and their children had turned into fine men and women. “
26. When we plant trees, we don’t plant them to enjoy their shade, as this is a gift for our children. Not all in life is about what you can enjoy now.
27. Two things I hope to give my children one day, the wings to fly from trouble and the courage to stand and face it.
28. Let us give our children the ability to be better people than we ever were.
29. “Believe you can and you're halfway there.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
30. The best gift a child can give their parents is to eat their vegetables, listen to their elders, and love the law for it guides them down a good path in life.
Inspiration for Society
31. We must invest in society so we create a community of people who have something to lose and everything to fight for.
32. We are a society of great minds, wonderful connections, and unique individuals, but let us also be a great society of tolerant hearts, forgiving minds, and understanding souls.
33. “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” ~ Aristotle Onassis
34. It is possible for you to cast one stone on a pond, sending out ripples that can transform every corner of the watery surface. Likewise, a kind word, thoughtful gesture, and resolute society can do the same to the world.
35. “The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenseless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenseless against ourselves.” ~ Arnold J. Toynbee
36. The world of your youth has changed, but you have the power to encourage that change to become a future you are proud of and a legacy for your own children so they may cherish their youth.
37. There is an easy solution to crime, hate, and law-breaking—it’s time we learned our manners again and encourage being respectful.
38. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” ~ Nelson Mandela
I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” ~ Nelson Mandela
39. Do you choose the society you live in? Keep in mind that society didn’t choose you either, so living in harmony is vital for society and you to thrive.
40. “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
Inspiration to Business
41. If your goal in business is only to make money, you’re setting yourself and your company up for failure.
42. When you fall, it doesn’t mean you can’t fly. It just means you have to pick yourself up and keep jumping until the wind catches you.
43. Whether you run a business, a country, or your family, you should keep the calculations equally simple so you don’t end up cheating yourself and those around you.
44. Whatever your line of business, it’s never about the products you sell, the revenue you create, or the stocks you’re worth—it’s about the feeling of absolute joy it brings when you wake up each day.
45. Your time is a precious commodity. In fact, it’s so scarce that it can’t be bought or sold, so use it wisely.
46. “It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference.” ~ Tom Brokaw
47. “I think it's very important to have a feedback loop, where you're constantly thinking about what you've done and how you could be doing it better. I think that's the single best piece of advice: constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself.” ~ Elon Musk
48. I sit in meetings all day, and while sharing knowledge is important, an email is equally effective. Inspire your employees and you’ll run a family, not a meeting of bored people.
49. “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” ~ Francis of Assisi
Bonus Inspiration
50. “We're taught to be ashamed of confusion, anger, fear and sadness, and to me they're of equal value to happiness, excitement and inspiration.” ~ Alanis Morissette
51. If you feel like you’re beaten, remember the great words of The Terminator: “I’ll be back!” You have the power to bounce back, overcome any challenge, and inspire others along the way.
Final Thoughts on Words of Encouragement for a Leader
Using these words of encouragement for a leader to inspire others, you can shape the world they live in and bring real and lasting change for good. Great leaders know that their task is not to rule or lead others but to use their words of wisdom to guide and inspire others so they can lead themselves.
When hard times lie ahead for yourself or someone else, find comfort in these 65 words of encouragement. They contain words of wisdom to see you through.
And if you want more words of encouragement, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 61 Words of Encouragement to Comfort Someone with Depression
- 35 Comforting Words of Encouragement for a Friend in Need
- 55 Important Words of Encouragement for a Caregiver
