5 ways to build a committed, loyal workforce-and thus, your confidence that you are a confident and inspiring leader.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

So, if you're just as inclined, it might as well be you.

Having the confidence to lead and inspire others to perform to the standards you set is simple, if you know what to pay particular attention to.

Following are some guidelines for leading your most important resources-your staff-in today's competitive marketplace.

Craft, Share and Embody a Clear Vision

What is the ultimate goal of your organization?

Do you know?

If you are unclear, you can bet your employees are unclear.

Even if you do know what it is, you can still bet that unless it's been communicated up, down and sideways, your employees still may be unclear.

A significant challenge facing most organizations is enabling a reliable top-down, as well as bottom-up information flow.

Once you've crafted a clear vision, be sure to communicate it frequently.

Create a brand for the vision within your organization, and outside it as well-your clients, customers, and partners should all equally have clear understanding and be in support of your vision.

Finally, embody the vision.

Recognize that every single employee is looking to you to provide a role model for how they personally can contribute in realizing the vision.

Communicate and Serve as Role Model for Organizational Values

Be sure to attend not only to WHAT gets done, but HOW as well.

What are the strongest aspects of the culture in your organization?

How can you leverage those strengths to achieve even greater things?

If work/life balance is a key value, are you sending a mixed message by insisting your direct reports, or you yourself, burn the midnight oil?

Continually remind yourself just why those values were put into place.

If you don't have clarified organizational values, hurry up and get a consultant in there to help you facilitate the process of defining them for your organization.

And then, make sure every waking moment is spent serving as a role model for them, just as you give others permission to live and work by them.

Make Sure Employees Have the Resources They Need to Get the Work Done

Hire the right staff-the right skills, talents, attitude and ambition.

Then, ensure they have access to whatever resources they need to get their work done.

Reach out frequently, to make sure they have what they need, and are readily accessing everything you've made available.

Broadly communicate new resources, and encourage staff to continually innovate and create newer and better tools.

Provide Appropriate Incentives and Constant Recognition

Learn how your employees can be motivated.

What do they consider incentives?

Then, strategically align those incentives to organizational focus and specific goals.

Provide constant recognition and feedback, rather than a once per year discussion, and seek feedback from them in return.

Celebrate Successes Big and Small

Build a culture of celebration.

Encourage celebration of any organizational success-large or small.

Give permission for staff to provide one another with encouragement and feedback.

If as leader, you set and communicate a clear direction, remain visible, and provide your employees with the resources they need to fulfill their responsibilities, you will effectively lead, and inspire your staff to performance above expectations.

And, this in turn, will only enhance your confidence as their leader.