COURAGE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RISK

On the inside cover of a 2021 book by Ryan Holiday is the following quote . . .

“In a time when it seems like so many – from our politicians to professors, from business leaders to artists and innovators – are unable or unwilling to stand up for what’s right or even to speak the truth, courage calls out more urgently to all of us.? Will we answer?? Will we cower before life . . . or tower over it??This is the choice that determines everything.”

Courage has always been the catalyst for change. As Ryan Holiday aptly reminds us, in a world where many appear unwilling to stand for what’s right, the call for courage echoes louder than ever. Yet, courage is not just about taking a stand. It is about the willingness to face the often uncomfortable truths about ourselves, our actions, and what it truly takes to align accountability and justness. Without this alignment, we cannot hope to build the communities of integrity, understanding, and resilience that our world so desperately needs.

At its core, courage demands self-reflection. The pursuit of a goal, whether personal or professional, often begins with lofty aspirations. We dream big, make plans, and charge forward with ambition.

But when faced with the reality of what’s required to achieve those goals — the sacrifices, the discipline, the risks, and the confrontation with our own limitations - courage can falter. It’s far easier to cling to ideals than to grapple with the messy, complicated work of making them a reality. This is where accountability becomes essential.

Risk-taking is an inherent part of courage. It requires stepping into uncertainty, knowing that success is not guaranteed, but choosing to move forward anyway. One vivid example comes from the world of business innovation. In the late 1990s, Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix, faced significant criticism for pivoting the company from a DVD rental business to a streaming platform. It was a risky move that could have led to financial ruin. Yet Hastings’ courage to embrace change and take calculated risks transformed Netflix into a global powerhouse, reshaping the entertainment industry. His story highlights that courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to act despite it.

Accountability, in its truest form, is not about blame or punishment. It’s about ownership. It’s about acknowledging where we’ve fallen short and taking deliberate action to course correct. For leaders, this means more than setting expectations or holding others to a standard. It means modeling integrity in every decision, admitting mistakes, and staying committed to principles even when doing so is unpopular or inconvenient.

But accountability alone is not enough. To build communities rooted in integrity and resilience, there must also be a foundation of justness. Justness is the equitable and fair treatment of all individuals, grounded in empathy and understanding. It requires courage to not only recognize injustice but to act against it. It requires leaders to speak truth to power and to challenge systems that perpetuate harm, even when those systems seem too vast or ingrained to change.

Another powerful example of courage in action comes from the social justice realm. Malala Yousafzai’s unwavering fight for girls’ education in the face of violent opposition is a testament to the intersection of risk-taking, accountability, and justness. Despite the dangers, Malala stood firm in her conviction, advocating for a cause greater than herself. Her courage inspired global movements and brought about tangible change, proving that taking risks for the sake of justice can lead to transformative outcomes.

The intersection of accountability and justness is where true transformation happens. It is where individuals and organizations can move beyond performative gestures and into the realm of meaningful impact. Consider the leaders who choose to listen to their communities rather than impose their own solutions and who prioritize long-term well-being over short-term gains. These are the leaders who understand that courage is not a solitary act but a collective one.

Building communities of integrity, understanding, and resilience requires fostering environments where courage is celebrated and supported. Too often, those who dare to speak the truth or challenge the status quo are met with resistance or dismissal. In such environments, fear thrives, and progress stagnates. But when courage is met with encouragement and collaboration, it becomes contagious. People feel empowered to take risks, to innovate, and to push boundaries in ways that drive lasting change.

The path to such communities is not without challenges. Facing the truth about our own shortcomings can be painful. Aligning accountability and justness may require us to dismantle systems and practices we once relied on. It may force us to have difficult conversations, to confront biases, and to make decisions that others might not understand or agree with. But this is the work of courage. It is the choice to cower before life’s challenges or to tower over them, as Holiday suggests.

In conclusion, ultimately, the question is not whether we are brave enough to pursue our goals but whether we have the courage to face what it takes to achieve them. This courage is not loud or boastful; it is quiet and steady. It is the resolve to act with integrity even when no one is watching, to prioritize justice even when it costs us, and to remain accountable even when it’s hard.

As individuals and as a collective, we have the power to create the communities we long for. But it will take courage. The courage to stand up, to speak out, to take risks, and to follow through. The courage to align our actions with our values and to ensure that accountability and justness are not just words but guiding principles. This is the choice that determines everything. Will we answer the call for courage? Or will we let it pass us by?

The future of our communities depends on our answers.

Where is your business or workplace today? Are you aligned to build communities of integrity, resilience, and understanding? You can get a glimpse into your alignment here.