There are always good reasons to play it safe. Repeating the past may be painful, but at least it’s predictable.
Fear is the reason today is like yesterday.
Every meaningful act requires courage. Aristotle said, “You will never do anything in this world without courage”
Courage to define reality:
Max Dupree writes in, The Lost Art of Leadership, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.”
Double vision:
Courageous leaders have double vision. They see the world as it is and as it could be.
Look problems in the eye and see opportunity. Fear sees threat. Courage sees opportunity. Leadership perception isn’t pretending.Threats exist. Accept reality, then make it better.
Look people in the eye and see strength. Overcome the seduction of developing weaknesses.
Look the present in the eye and see the future. Think about where you’re going, even as you accept where you are. Leaders with vision shape the future. They don’t ignore the present.
Courage always turns toward the future.
Courageous leaders inspire courage:
Courage in you inspires boldness in others.
- Go first.
- Take responsible risks.
- Own fear by naming it.
- Admit mistakes. Only posers pretend to have it all together.
- Own the mistakes of others.
- Patterns of failure are leadership’s responsibility to address.
- Keep people working in their strengths.
- Compensate for people’s weaknesses.
- Retrain, reassign, or remove people who persistently fall short.
- Provide glimpses of your true self. Practice courageous vulnerability.
- Talk about noble mission when facing problems, challenges, and adversity.
- Establish points of certainty. Live and lead in full alignment with vision and values. Values are foundations of certainty in turbulent environments.
- Be predictable. Always stand with your team even when they screw up, for example.
- Persistently celebrate progress and press for better.
Fear focuses on threat. Courage focuses on opportunity.
How might leaders find courage for themselves?
How might leaders inspire courage in others?