Courage is a term that instantly evokes powerful images, images that mean different things to each of us. Perhaps it might mean climbing a mountain, leaping from a cliff or taming a lion. Or perhaps it conjures up individuals who have shaped history. Regardless of the images that arise, it is something we have all witnessed, experienced or learned about. But how do we apply it as leaders and in business?
Courage doesn’t have to be something as bold as shaping history or battling a lion. It is more commonly displayed simply by living and leading with authenticity, staying true to your values and being willing to make unpopular decisions to do what is right. It is also avoiding the temptation of conforming to what others think or expect of us, following group-think, or simply doing what has always been done. It is not about being different for difference’s sake. Rather, it is willingness to lead by example in paving new ways for our teams and organisations, even in difficult circumstances.
When was the last time you saw real courage displayed? What was your impression of the person displaying it? How did it make you feel? Do you create that same impression for the teams and organisations that you lead?
The Oxford Dictionary defines courage as “the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery”. Let’s face it – leading people and organisations can sometimes be frightening, especially in times of adversity or change. With experience, we become more comfortable with the role, but no matter how long we’ve been leading others, there can still be situations that push us beyond our comfort zone.
Into the unknown
That is especially true in today’s business environment, where leaders are facing change at a pace that seems much faster than that experienced by our predecessors. Companies of all sizes feel the pressure from global markets, financial crises, and even political surprises. Keeping up with constantly changing business environments requires leaders to demonstrate courage in making the tough decisions, taking the road less travelled and challenge the status quo. But that is not enough.
We cannot lead teams or organisations in a new direction without their alignment and support. We have to inspire others to join us on the journey and help them feel secure in the path we are leading. That’s much easier said than done. People often avoid, resist or even fear change, so they look to their leaders for guidance. ‘Walking the talk’, leading with authenticity, showing bravery in the face of the unknown, and helping our teams feel secure on the journey, is all part of demonstrating courage. This is something we know as leaders, but, if we are honest with ourselves, I wonder how many would agree this is something we consistently demonstrate.
So how do we develop and demonstrate courage as leaders?
1. Identify what stops you from taking courageous actions. For many, it is a fear of failure or negative consequences. It may be concern about the opinions or reactions of others. Perhaps it is a lack of confidence in your own knowledge or ability. Whatever the blocks for you personally, it is important that you recognise them so that you can address and overcome them.
2. Take risks and accept failure as a part of learning and growth. This doesn’t mean being reckless. There is a big difference between taking leaps of faith versus throwing caution to the wind and doing something just for the sake of being bold. Taking healthy risks requires understanding the consequences of failure and being able to accept that outcome, yet creating the circumstances for success. Also, when failure occurs (and it will if you take enough risks), take the learning from the situation and move forward. Don’t let failure stop you from taking more risks.
3. Recognise courageous steps taken in the past. When have you taken courageous steps previously? What barriers did you face and overcome? What was the outcome? How did it feel? What did you learn? By reflecting on past experiences, identifying what made them successful (or what you learned) and recognising your courage, you can boost your confidence for taking courageous steps in the future.
4. Practise small courageous acts to build confidence. Like any skill we want to develop or behaviour we want to change, we have to practise. Just as a muscle gets stronger as we exercise it, the more we practise a behaviour, the easier it gets. Start with small actions or decisions that may be uncomfortable, at first. As the courage muscle gets stronger, it becomes more comfortable to exercise in demanding situations.
5. Be authentic and aligned to your values. Showing real courage is often as simple as just being authentic, honest and sticking to our values. Day-to-day, we face decisions that challenge our values, or even present ethical dilemmas. Staying true to ourselves, our values and maintaining our integrity in the face of adversity are ways we demonstrate courage every day.
Face your fears
The late American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said: “Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage means we face our fears.”
Being courageous will not always be comfortable. It means having difficult conversations, making unpopular decisions, revealing our lack of knowledge or imperfections, or staying the course even when it may seem impossible. Leadership and courage are not about popularity contests. They are about doing the right thing, rather than what’s easy, standing up for others, taking healthy risks in spite of difficulty, and taking teams to places others may not have thought possible.
The good news is that courage can be developed. It is a state of mind or quality that we can choose to demonstrate in any given situation. It’s not being fearless. On the contrary, it is about recognising our fear and taking that next step anyway. Courage doesn’t have to be slaying dragons either (despite it feeling like that some days). It’s more typically seen in the day-to-day decisions and actions we take. And it is certainly something we want to develop within our teams if we want to enhance our businesses.
So what is that courageous decision or action you’re going to take today?
Featured in Edge Magazine October 2017