How to be courageous
There are many kinds of leaders, but the leaders we remember are those who take a stand. They do what’s right over what’s easy, speak up when no one else will. They risk when no one else dares.
No matter how seasoned a leader is, it still takes courage to go against the grain. It’s natural to feel afraid when making difficult decisions - fear is the primary response to potential danger, especially that of the unknown.
I am learning to reframe my fear. Whenever I feel fearful about doing something, I remind myself that it’s good to feel scared. My fear means that I care, and my decision to push on will ultimately fuel my growth.
Overcoming your fear requires courage, but being courageous doesn’t mean the absence of fear. It’s about allowing your courage to triumph over fear. Being a courageous leader is the result of practice rather than a heroic trait. Courage is a muscle that must be strengthened with time, and is a skill that we can all learn.
Here are some steps we can take to develop our courage as leaders:
1. Claim our courage
The first thing we have to do is decide that we’re going to be a courageous leader, no matter what. Whenever fear strikes, choose courage.
2. Speak up on what we stand for
Always hold steady on our values and principles, even when the easiest route might be to cut corners or sacrifice our staff to chase profits.
3. Let go, take risks, and try new things
But if things have been going well for years, why change? Because good is the enemy of great. If we’re not open to change and innovation, it will be too late to turn it around if things go south.
4. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
Once we’ve made an unpopular decision, learn to push through the feelings of discomfort. Don’t back down when things get too hard.
5. Have courageous conversations
Confronting people can be hard, especially if potential conflict is involved. But if we let things fester or brush them under the rug, it will only grow into larger problems later down the line. But leave the high conflict energy at the door; just speak the truth with love.
6. Learn to be resilient to rejection
Everyone gets rejected - we just have to build up our resilience to it. Think like telemarketers who cold-call all day - the rejections won’t sting after a while. Jia Jiang’s 100 Days of Rejection is a great TEDTalk on rejection and dealing with it.
7. Seek feedback and actually listen
Gather performance feedback from trusted employees and resist the urge to be defensive. Getting employee feedback not only allows us to improve, but also empowers them to share their thoughts and ideas on opportunities for the company that we might not have thought about.
I’m sure there are many more ways to go about it. How would you develop yourself into a fearless leader? ●