As a leadership development professional and a leadership coach, I am often asked what it takes to be a successful leader. There are many skills and characteristics that a person can develop in order to grow as a leader, but the one characteristic – or more accurately, virtue – that matters more than all the others as a leader, is courage.
At the basic level the definition of a leader is someone who goes first. A leader forges a path forward and inspires people to follow. That in itself takes courage. Aristotle said that “courage is the first of human qualities because it’s the quality that guarantees the others.” That’s what makes courage as a leader so important. It’s courage that allows you to develop and grow as a leader, it’s what allows you to become the most effective and impactful leader you can be.
The leaders that we tend to remember the most are the leaders who lead with courage. The leaders who have the courage to speak up when no one else will. The leaders who take risks when everyone else plays it safe. The leaders who do what’s right, not what it is easy. Courage is not about not being afraid – it’s about being afraid and doing what needs to be done anyway.
Courage is your superpower as a leader, especially when you are a woman who leads. Developing courage can be the foundation that allows you to do so many things. Courage will give you the strength you need to seek the hard feedback and really listen to what is said. It will help you encourage open dialog on your team, even when the dialog brings up differing opinions. It’s courage that will help you make the hard decisions, even when you aren’t 100% sure which is the right one.
Believe it or not, courage is actually a teachable and learnable skill and everyone has the capacity for courage. Still feeling unsure? Here are three ways you can start to build your leadership courage today.
- Know your why. The key to courage is having a great reason to have it. Everyone has a why. Your why is the purpose, cause or belief that inspires you. When you know your why, you are more likely to act with courage in the face of fear.
- Focus on your strengths. Really get to know your strengths and unique gifts. As you have opportunities to utilize your strengths your confidence will increase, along with your courage.
- Feel the fear, then do it any way. Practicing courage is the only real way to develop it. Remember that courage is not the absence of fear, it’s action in the face of fear. Practice taking action, even if it scares the heck out of you. If you can’t dive in, take baby steps, any action is good. Action breeds confidence and confidence builds courage.
I’d love to know… what role does courage play in your leadership?
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