Sudhir Gupta

expert panel

While inspiration and influence are both powerful tools, they don’t always mean the same thing or lead to the same results. At their core, both inspiration and influence aim to move people—but how they do so, and what follows, can vary dramatically. For leaders, choosing between (or balancing) the two can shape not only how others respond, but also how trust, motivation and lasting impact are built. Some see inspiration as the deeper force, igniting internal purpose, while others view influence as the practical key to decision-making and action. Below, 20 members of Fast Company Executive Board share how they view the distinction between inspiration and influence, and which they believe carries more weight in effective leadership.