How influential are the leaders in your organization? Do they truly work together with the workforce for the success of the organization? Influential leaders help people to grow, have inner character and work together with others for a better running organization.

As leadership expert John Maxwell states, "The true measure of leadership is influence — nothing more, nothing less." Here are five tips for more influential leadership:

1. Communicate

Communication is the essential building block in leadership. Listening is an underused tool. By really listening to what a team member is stating, goes a long way to better understanding across the whole organization.

Communication is difficult, but it is made more difficult when it is not used fully. Leaders are more influential when they practice communications skills, which will in turn get the most out of the workforce.

2. Learn from failure

Failure is a part of life. A leader needs to be able to address the lessons that failure offers. The failures an organization makes should be viewed as opportunities for growth — not only for the leader, but also for workforce.

Failures are often viewed as a way for a leader to hide. Focus on making improvements or adjustments that will help in the development of new ideas and goals. This will enable the entire organization to be involved in the making of these new ideas and their implementation.

3. Motivate

Motivation is the best form of engagement a leader can have. A leader knows how to engage others. Leadership is not yelling out orders for others to follow. Rather, being involved in the process of helping others to grow will truly help motivate that employee to want learn and do more.

Motivation takes time, and a leader must be willing to take the time. The organization will be better when a leader takes the steps necessary to be that cheerleader for that team member. Who knows, maybe one day that team member will be the next leader.

4. Inspire others

Inspiration can be a difficult path for leaders to follow. According to Maxwell, "You're a leader if you only have followers." You need to be able to develop relationships that are strong and not superficial. People can tell right away when someone is being false with them. Build the right kind of relationships with the right people.

Once a relationship is developed, than you can be begin the task of inspiration. Take a chance on a team member; help him/her in the process of becoming the best he/she can be. This not only helps the person, but also the organization.

5. Show real leadership

Leadership is not one size fits all. It takes a lot of effort and is developed over time. Character is the inner person. Who you are is just as important as what you do. Character is true leadership.

People will follow a leader who shows true character. People will also follow someone who lacks character, but over time a leader without character eventually will lose those followers.