4 Skills That Make Up Courage

Leadership isn't easy; it's much easier to read or talk about than it is to actually?do. This is why courage is essential for being an effective leader. When you're a leader you have to be accountable, do what you believe is right even if others don't agree,?have difficult conversations, appear (and be) brave in the face of uncertainty, and always be conscious of how your actions are influencing those around you.

It's also harder in many ways to be a leader in today’s day and age because you are expected to actually model the behaviour you want your employees to follow. The days of “do as I say not as I do” leadership, and being a hands-off boss who leads by fear and intimidation are on the way out. Leaders now have to be brave, take responsibility and understand how much influence they have. This attitude is reflected in the way society is changing today. People want to move away from blame and fear and shame; they want to feel like they are enough.

Even if you don't feel like the most courageous person, you don't have to worry - courage can be taught!?Bravery may not be an inherent quality for most of us, but you can use some of the skills you already have to learn how to develop your courage.

Here’s how that works: courage can be broken down into four skills that, with dedication and practice, will help you practice and develop your bravery.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

–?Anais Nin

Vulnerability

You need to be able to put yourself out there and show up, even if you don't know what the outcome will be. Whether it’s in a phone call, a meeting, or talking in person, you need to be willing to shed your protective layer and let people see the real you.

Vulnerability ?isn’t weakness, like some believe. Being vulnerable also helps foster trust between you and your team, because of the openness and honesty that it conveys.

Here is a great TED talk on Vulnerability.

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

–?Brene Brown?

Trust

You can’t have trust without vulnerability. This doesn't mean that you must trust everyone and ignore your instincts, it means that you should hand the reins over to your team occasionally. This a very effective way to show them that you believe in them and their abilities. It can be hard to let go of some of your control, but for the sake of developing great relationships with your team and others, you must start trusting them. Demonstrating that?trust ?goes a long way to motivating staff as well.

It may be more comfortable to simply do things yourself, because you know it will be done exactly how you want - but when you start deciding to be brave instead of comfortable you start building your courage.

You must also have confidence in yourself; you need to trust your decisions and actions and stand by them.

Here is a great TED Talk on Trust.

Being clear on your values

If you don't know what your values are, in leadership and in general, you should take a moment to sit down and really think about them. If you don't have clarity in this area, you are at a disadvantage by lacking direction.?

Once you’ve worked out what your values are, look at them closely and you'll likely see that you need courage to stand by them. Being clear on your values helps you make those tough decisions, because you will be able to stick to them and reassure yourself that you're doing the right thing. Doing the right thing is often the hardest choice, but your conviction will see you through.

Resilience

Leadership, like life in general, isn't always simple. There are often obstacles and setbacks. We all experience failure numerous times over the course of our lives. Since setbacks and failures aren't going anywhere, it's up to us as leaders to have a growth mindset when facing them. Effective leaders don't waste time searching for someone to blame for what went wrong, they look at what could be done differently next time to get a better result. When you model resilience it helps your team build their own as well, which is invaluable in the world of business. Setbacks don't take up as much time or money when you can brush them off and try again. Getting back up when you've been knocked down is one of the bravest things a leader (or person) can do.

Here is a great TED talk on Grit.

“Grit is sticking with your future day in, day out & not just for the month but for years.”

–?Angela Duckworth

Resilience, trust, vulnerability and clarity of your values are the four building blocks you need to build your courage. Each of these qualities requires bravery to enact, allowing you to practice and develop your courage in meaningful and authentic ways.?

They are also the skills that any leader should have if they want to be effective and make a real difference to their team and their company. When you start focusing on these building blocks, you're on the way to being a courageous leader - and the world definitely needs more of those!

If you don't know where to start, get in touch with the team at?LeadershipHQ . We have a range of programs and workshops on offer, focusing on courageous leadership. There’s an option to suit leaders at any stage of their leadership journey. Take the first step in becoming a more courageous leader by contacting us?today.

By Sonia McDonald

Founder and CEO of Leadership HQ and McDonald Inc. Leadership coach, Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, Mum and Author.?

Sonia McDonald is changing the face of leadership across the globe. She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, and is known for her mantra ‘Just Lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her transformational coaching, leadership training programs and cultural transformation for organisations and encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped thousands of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others.

Sonia is a founder and CEO of?McDonald Inc .,?LeadershipHQ ?and?Global Outstanding Leadership Awards ?and 2022 Courage Conference . For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of leadership and she is beyond committed to her mission around building a world of great leaders.

She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader. She has been recognised by Richtopia as One of the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Australian Entrepreneurs.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is a leading coach, an award-winning published author of newly released First Comes Courage , Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! and has become an in-demand keynote speaker on leadership, kindness and courage.

Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, kindness, empathy and courage as well as building outstanding leadership across the Globe.