When employees aren’t just engaged, but inspired, that’s when businesses see real breakthroughs. Inspired employees are themselves far more productive and, in turn, inspire those around them to strive for greater heights. But what makes a good leader and how do you become one? These 5 Ted Talks offer surprising, nuanced approaches on how to inspire and empower others to do their very best.

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Simon Sinek, author of the book Start With Why, explains how his own struggle to understand personal motivation led him to the fundamental realization that it all begins with “Why?”. The best managers and leaders help people get in touch with their personal “why” and connect it to the “why” of the company or organization. “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.”

Tribal Leadership

David Logan talks about the five kinds of tribes that humans naturally form -- in schools, workplaces, even the driver's license bureau. By understanding our shared tribal tendencies, we can help lead each other to become better individuals.

Why we have too few women leaders

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions -- and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice to women aiming for the C-suite.

Everyday Leadership

Drew Dudley, the Leadership Development Coordinator at the University of Toronto, spoke to the TEDx audience in 2012 about the value of leadership in our everyday lives. Leadership, according to Dudley, is helping others make their lives better with a personal impact. This talk is a direct link to how to be a an effective leader.

The Power of Introverts

Former corporate lawyer and negotiations consultant Susan Cain, author of the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts, demonstrates the often unappreciated gifts that introverted people bring to the workplace and the world at large. Exposing our culture’s extrovert bias, Cain explains how some of the greatest leaders in the world have been introverts and how the unique talents and abilities of introverts can be maximized in the workplace. As Cain notes, “There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.”