How to Ride a Bike – Where Courage Comes From
Between theory and practice is anxiety.
It’s comfortable learning about riding a bike, even exciting. But, getting on the seat for the first time takes courage.
I asked several leaders, “How does one overcome anxiety and get on the bike?”
Where courage comes from:
#1. Discomfort. What are you missing?
Christina wrote, “My daughter was a late rider – she was terrified of falling. But once she was the only one of her friends not riding, she got incredibly uncomfortable – felt left out and embarrassed.”
#2. Values. Do you care?
Beth put it this way, “What do I want my story to be?”
#3. Benefit. Is it worth it?
Mark wrote, “You don’t learn to ride a bike because learning is fun. You learn to ride a bike because you want to go flying down a hill. The reward is worth facing the fear.”
Abe echoed Mark’s comment, “Connect development to the benefit it will bring.”
#4. Self-perception. Are you able?
Courage grows when you’re convinced you can learn, improve, and make progress.
#5. Community. Who will help?
Tim responded, “With encouragement from others.” (Your mom or dad saying you can do it, I have you, I won’t let you fall.)
#6. Humility. Are you willing to look foolish?
Bill wrote, “What jumped out to me is getting courage to say I’m sorry.”
#7. Action. What imperfect step are you prepared to take right now?
Ashley wrote, “For me, anxiety tends to fade into the background during that putting-into-practice-phase,” because I’m focused on doing.”
Bolster courage in others:
Theory is easy. Everything’s great until you put your feet on the pedals for the first time. You can’t force someone to get on a bike, but you can make it easier.
Abe suggests, “Practice in a safe environment, one step at a time.”
Where does courage come from?
How might leaders instill courage in others?
Bonus material:
How to Find and Practice Courage (HBR)
7 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Courage (Psychology Today)
How to Boost Your Courage: 8 Really Effective Tips (Inc)
Number 3 is telling. All too often the benefit is so not worth the trouble or the risk.
Thanks Mitch. It’s important to know ourselves so that we can explore benefit and determine if the next step is worth the trouble.
How might leaders instill courage in others? — I believe its recognizing potentials and connecting the dots to a talent/ability someone has already demonstrated… “because I’ve seen you do A very well, I believe you can do B… and then (to extend your bike metaphor) running along side.
I believe that “I’m here/available to help” is stronger than “you got this”
Thanks Ken. I’ve seen the safety net principle instill timid people with courage. It’s powerful. It might be a challenge to know how much to help. Too much help and you affirm helplessness. People need reasonable amounts of stress to bring out their best.
Having said that, the idea of running along side is so powerful.
“Too much help and you affirm helplessness.” a powerful reminder!
Where does courage come from?
I see courage coming from those we grow up with see others lead the way we all follow in a positive sense. Granted we should learn to walk our own path too, exploring the unknown is the challenge that life has waiting. So dare to step out of the comfort zone, the worst we fall and pick ourselves up, move on to the next bruised knee.
How might leaders instill courage in others?
Share true life’s experiences in a sense of encouragement that we can do it. Keeping the positive side up, for “when we go negative we are grounded”! 🙂
Thanks Tim. My personal takeaway from your comment is share true life stories. The think about those stories is – in order to be effective – we have to share our fears and struggles, not just the victories.
A story about courage that encourages someone begins with fear.
Yes, Dan, looks like I left out the bruises along the way, surely not a bed of roses. Fear can surely make life’s journey confusing.
A little off-topic, but close. I use this video in my systems thinking class to encourage students to explore themselves outside of their box. Enjoy riding a bike…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzDaBzBlL0
Hope all is well, Jim
Wow!! I watched the whole video. Love it! Thanks Jim.
Jim,
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve talked about riding a bike many times over the years. First of all you can’t learn to ride a bike by reading any directions or ‘how-to’ books. Second, once you approach a bike to start learning (or watch someone else start learning – hoping you find it easier doing so), you will feel anxious if not scared; it’s just not easy. You press on because you decide the scapes and bruises are worth it because you really want to ride a bike!!!
Interestingly, my wife Jean and I (in our later 70’s) started trying to ride again after probably 5-8 years not riding (and about $300 to get the bikes fixed / tuned up). As I always suggested when talking about riding a bike, you don’t really forget. BUT both Jean and I were too ambitious and thus not cautious enough a first: we took spills / got scrapes we didn’t have to get … But it all came back pretty quickly.
Great children’s book titled something like “Franklin Rides A Bike” by the way.
Thanks JR…. I have to say that I enjoyed your story. Glad there were NO serious injuries. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone can stand the seat!!
In any case, the difference between talking/watching and DOING makes all the difference.
Nice insights. There is a realm of learning within which riding a bicycle fits that is also true for leading change aimed at improvement. It is hinted at, but not called out in this blog. It is impossible to learn to ride a bike in the classroom, via reading a book, watching a video or taking an online course. One must get on the bike to learn balance—the sensations of too much and not enough—and movement together. Learning what it takes to produce improvement in the “wicked” learning environments of real life is a learning activity that requires one learn as does the novice bicycle rider.