How courageous are you?

“Courageous leaders can create a culture of trust and respect, which makes those around them be prepared to follow them. This all creates a recipe for success, development, and evolution within an organisation.”?

As a young leader, I was scared (petrified really) of things like making big decisions. Having robust discussions. Trusting others to do important work. And the advice I got was – just get over your fears. Act in spite of fear. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting anyway.

All great ideas (and clichés), and I get that. For sure. But what do they really mean???

Do they mean ‘stop procrastinating’? Do they mean ‘you are afraid of public speaking; join Toastmasters’. Do they mean ‘stop overthinking it and get into action’? I feel like those quotes are quite broad, for a broad topic – courage. I feel that leaders need better advice, they need better guidance, and they need clearer actions. Why? Because leadership is not broad, it is one discussion, one conversation at a time.??

Courageous leaders are very deliberate in their actions. They are not acting despite fear. They are acting on purpose. They are demonstrating courage every day, by trying, telling, and trusting. Let me explain:?

The courage to try?

The only constant in life is change! And with change, comes big decisions. Big decisions have to be made, to improve, to update, to progress, and to move forward. And yes, your decisions and changes might be wrong. And you will get a lesson or a blessing from the outcome. But make the decision, implement the change and back yourself. Make it with the right information, with the right intent, and with the right foresight, and take your team forward.??

Tip: An oldie but a goodie... the pros and cons strategy, works every time. Give yourself a time frame in which to make the decision, and to try something new.?

The courage to tell?

There are so many things that you need to tell your team. Whether it is about your vision, or about their performance. If you are saying it in your head (or to your leadership coach – yes, my advice is always if you can tell me, you can tell them), it must be said out loud. Even if it might not be popular. Robust conversations need to be had. You owe it to the team or the person to have them. In a way that builds the relationship, not breaks it.?

Tip: Prepare, prepare, and prepare. Do a conversation planner, and make sure you know what you are going to say, and how. And why. Schedule it and communicate your message with care factor.??

The courage to trust?

Leaders, please lean in. It is not quicker and better to do it yourself. Seriously, it’s not. Trust people to do their jobs, with your support, as required – not doing it for them, and watch them shine. Trust is king if you want to develop a high-performing team. Set expectations, set standards, and help your team exceed them. And watch them transform, during the process.?

Tip: Catch yourself every time you know you are doing the work of your team. Hold yourself accountable for delegating, and asking the right person to do the right work.??

Yes, courageous leadership is about acting in spite of fear, but it is about deliberate action. With an outcome in mind. And with a clear purpose!??

Fast-track your leadership skills

It's one thing for me to say - be courageous and have robust conversations - but it's another thing for you to take action.

I've put together a one-month online program on Robust Conversations, in which you will be guided through how to hold robust conversations. Click on the image to learn more.

About Anton?

Leaders struggle with their mental health, too... Often finding it difficult to lead under pressure.?

Anton is an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, bestselling author and founder of The Guinea Group. Over the past 15 years, with over 150+ global organisations, he has inspired workplace leadership, safety and cultural change. He’s achieved this by combining his corporate expertise, education (Bachelor of Psychology), and infectious energy.?

Book in with Anton to chat about your leadership and how you can lean into your courage.

Sources?

https://www.socialenterprise.academy/scot/8-ways-to-develop-your-courageous-leadership#:~:text=What%20does%20courage%20look%20like%20in%20a%20leader%3F&text=A%20courageous%20leader%20is%20someone,make%20changes%20based%20on%20this.??

https://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/2019/05/the_three_types_of_workplace_c.html??