You just walked out of your boss’s office and you feel small and anxious. You work for a small boss.
Small, fearful leaders make others feel small and afraid.
You’re smaller than the person you make feel small.
Successful leaders make people feel brave and powerful.
4 P’s that end fear and inspire boldness:
- Practical Principles. The principle of maximizing strengths more than fixing weaknesses inspires boldness, for example.
- Pivotal People. Courageous leaders inspire bravery; fearful inspire fear.
- Private Practices. It’s hard to be bold when you’re being someone you’re not. Engage in self-reflection.
- Panic Projects. Remember when your hair was on fire and no one was around to put it out? Boldness is the result of working through fear.
12 ways to be a “Pivotal Person” who inspires boldness:
- Encourage but don’t coddle. Hand-holders prolong helplessness. Confidence blossoms when you realize you can stand on your own.
- Extend help but remain hands off. Do stuff with others not for others. When your desire to be helpful exceeds their commitment to succeed frustration sets in.
- Rise above minutia. Shine a light on their big picture and repeated patterns. Those who are in the battle don’t see the battle.
- Stay open to who they are. Don’t mold mini-me’s.
- Be curious and hopeful about their path.
- Share your successes and failures. But, listen more than talk.
- Hold high standards. Expect excellence.
- Show kindness but be tough. Say, “You have more in you.”
- Confront uncomfortable realities. “You gave up too soon.”
- Focus on growing through not giving up. Ask, “What are you learning?
- Give generously but don’t create dependence. Be sure they have more skin in the game than you.
- Challenge self-importance and entitlement thinking. Humility is the heart of courage.
Bonus: Believe in them more than they believe in themselves.
How have others inspired your boldness?
Which of the 4 P’s has transformed your leadership most?