Most people start their working lives with enthusiasm, a little fear combined with confidence and a great desire to learn. New employees are often full of ideas, passion, and enthusiasm. In some ways, moving up the corporate ladder for many leaders means letting go of passion and becoming more of a zombie worker.

Zombie workers can be hard to spot: successful, in charge perhaps, and masters of the grind: what to wear, how to speak, what to drive, effective networking, what a leader is supposed to be/do/look like. The passion on the verge of exploding has become the acceptance of the work that needs to be done and the people that need to be managed. People need inspired leaders to truly excel – here are three steps to determine where you are on the continuum from zombie to inspired leader.

Here are three places to start:

1) Get in touch with what it is to work with you and for you. Of course you can do things, but what is the experience of being your colleague? What about a person on your team? Lastly, someone you might not think much of, the new hire you see mostly in big meetings or on calls? Find a way to ASK THEM. You can do this in many ways: Leadership 360, talk to your trusted advisors at work and ask them for the real deal if you think they’re not afraid to say so, start an anonymous box and ask people to enter three words that describe you . Get the word out that you’re committed to hearing the real deal.

two) During each one-on-one with your direct reports (you have them regularly, don’t you?), ask them to help you stretch; have them come prepared with a STOP/START/CONTINUE for you at least on a scheduled quarterly or semi-annual basis. There is no need to discuss them in detail or embarrass them by challenging or defending them. Thank them for their feedback and really take time to reflect outside of the meeting. If you want to talk more in depth to better understand your comments, please set up another short meeting focused on START/STOP/GO. The one-on-one meeting must remain focused on the other individual and their needs and growth.

3) Make a list of the three words that you think best describe you today and the three words (or phrases) that you ideally want to best describe you. Are all three the same? Where is the overlap, the difference? Knowing how others see you is just as important as being willing to take a hard look and really get to know yourself.

Now you can see:

• How others see/experience you
• Places to focus on START/STOP/GO behaviors
• How do you see yourself and how do you want to be seen?

Through this process, you also show others who you are as a leader:

• willing to listen
• Open to receiving feedback and taking action
• Committed to excellence in leadership
• Appreciation for two-way communication

What you do with the information is just as important as knowing how others perceive you. Make up your mind and take it seriously – the world has enough corporate zombies.