Banishing Courage Vampires: Cultivating True Leadership and Innovation

Have you ever considered that your leadership style might be unintentionally stifling your team's potential?

For leaders, the common narrative has long been to "take the lead." We often assume that by stepping forward, making decisions, and asserting our influence, we fulfil our roles effectively. However, after reading Aneace Haddad ’s book and recording a recent podcast with him, I was introduced to the concept of "courage vampires."

What Are Courage Vampires?

In his book, The Eagle Who Drank The Hummingbird Nectar, Aneace describes a poignant example of a team-building event where a leader went first to help guide an anxious colleague cross a rope bridge. While this might seem like effective leadership, the facilitator points out that the leader unintentionally took away the opportunity for the colleague to find their own courage.

Aneace defines a ‘courage vampire’ as someone who unintentionally drains the courage from others. These individuals can stifle innovation, discourage risk-taking, and suppress the authentic voices of their team members. They may believe they are leading by providing direction and setting clear expectations, but in reality, they are fostering an environment where fear outweighs creativity and compliance trumps genuine engagement.

Reflecting on Leadership

This analogy resonated with me. I realised that in my efforts to protect and lead those I care about, both at work and at home, I might have unintentionally acted as a ‘courage vampire’ at times. This introspection was eye-opening, highlighting the balance between servant leadership that I was always drawn to and fostering a courageous culture.

If you’re concerned you or someone on your team might be draining the courage, here are some actionable tips:

1. Encourage Open Dialogue: Create a safe space for team members to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of repercussions.

2. Promote Risk-Taking: Encourage your team to take calculated risks and view failures as learning opportunities. This builds a culture of innovation and resilience.

3. Give Space & Time: Like the example in the book with some time and support the collague may well have found their courage and crossed the bridge alone. When we jump in to help too fast, it limits team members ability to find their courage.

4. Reflective Leadership: Regularly reflect on your actions and their impact on your team's courage and morale. Seek feedback to understand how you can better support their growth and creativity.

There are, as always some exceptions to this approach. Were the rope bridge on fire and burning fast, a supportive leader giving space and time to find courage would fail, painfully. If a business critical decision needs to be made and your team are looking to you, and only you to [land the plane / light the torch / choose your own leadership analogy] then pausing to empower them could cause serious challenges.

Leadership is not always about having to have all the answers. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute and take risks. I’ve found the concept of courage vampires to be a valuable reminder that true leadership is about knowing what works best for which person under the unique circumstances you find yourselves in.

Want to dive deeper into the concept of courage vampires and learn how to combat them? Listen to Aneace Haddad's episode of The Human CEO podcast on YouTube here.