It is courage that determines whether a leader will put leadership skills or toolkits to effective use. It is courage that is absolutely fundamental to solving problems, innovating, pursuing opportunities and safeguarding the welfare of others. And contrary to our common understanding, courage is not the responsibility of the few; courage is a skill that can be learned and developed.
Although courage isn’t just about the spectacular, rare acts that get you labeled Time’s Person of the Year. The need for courageous actions falls within the responsibility of every effective leader — and competent courage comes from the choices you make to step up and speak up, and to learn and repeatedly practice specific skills, just like any competence in any domain.
When leaders fail to act courageously, the company fails to step up to solve problems or seize opportunities, they risk employee disengagement or even organizational failure. And not having the courage to innovate can lead to being leap-frogged by nimbler upstarts and those better prepared to adapt in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
SELF WORTH
Courageous actions is something that can be done more or less competently, where competence means you increase the chances of accomplishing something positive while decreasing the likelihood of negative personal consequences.
As a leader, choosing courage is indelibly linked to two factors that determine self-worth: regrets that may accumulate and your sense of legacy.
SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER
Speaking “truth to power” includes confronting or challenging authority figures and choosing to act with greater autonomy than you might technically have. And it’s not easy. Challenging your boss or supervisor or defying instructions can be downright terrifying. Yet there are scores of instances of people speaking up and effecting positive results without ruining their careers. And it depends on behavior. Going in aggressively or over-defensively is likely to provoke a greater sense of threat or anger than using reason.
Speaking truth to power, takes courage. But it also takes thinking deeply about how to behave — how to frame and communicate with superiors to achieve better results. And though we cannot necessarily predict or guarantee outcomes, there are other benefits to speaking up.
A PERSONAL CHOICE
It is down to the individual to choose whether to be the change they wish to see. Choosing courage increases the chances of having maximum impact as a leader in doing so.
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