HOW TO FIND COURAGE

The ability to think through issues as a decision-maker and then select a good solution is just step one.? For many issues, step two involves the courage to act.? This exciting topic is the focus of a new course I’m creating.?

I’m always fascinated by our love affair with IQ.? Intelligence is of course hugely useful, but sometimes oddly overrated.? IQ increases the odds you’ll find productive answers, but how successfully you act on them comes down to other factors like communication skills, networking skills, and personal courage!

Courage is a state of mind that allows one to engage dangers, fears, and risks with confidence and resolve.? You need a lot of courage to have an interesting career.? This isn’t just true for artists, small business owners, or senior executives.? It’s a central focus for leaders at every level of the organization, every day.?

At least half or more of the decisions you make will require courage.? Think about it:? the unpopular decision, the decision to sacrifice, taking a big risk, the decision with no good options, a conflict that must be addressed, dealing with mistakes you’ve made, leading with your values, and many more.

We are all born with some baseline amount of natural courage.? It varies – just like everything else. ?Also like most other issues, it can legitimately be viewed as a skill one can learn.? It’s a personal resource you can improve.? So, how do you build more courage??

There are several very useful answers to this question.? Aside from decent self-care essentials (e.g., diet, sleep, exercise), consider these tactics…in no particular order:

Understand your baseline by self-auditing.? How do you compare to others?? How has your courage changed over time?? Try journaling, quiet reflection, or meditation.? Look back at recent decisions and your performance evaluations.? Talk to a colleague, a coach, or your mentor.?

Engage relevant training.? You seek increased comfort with pressure and uncertainty.? Consider CPS (creative problem-solving training), improvisation training, or activities that support open-minded thinking.?

Increase the likelihood of courage.? Embrace positive self-affirmations daily.? Write down and remember key moments of courage in your past.? Mix up your daily routines to try new things and new approaches to stimulate new thoughts (i.e., order of work tasks, with whom and where you eat).

Build perspective about fear and anxiety.? Recognize they are universally experienced.? Acknowledge that they can be harnessed, focused, and leveraged.? Find at least one “monster under your bed” and face that fear immediately.

Build a great team and network.? Who you spend time with has a truly massive impact on how you feel and how you function.? Limit exposure to negative people.? Associate with people who are more capable than you.? Associate with people who demonstrate courage.? Make courage a normal topic of conversation similar to any other skill set.

Courage isn’t about taking risks per se.? It’s about looking at risks clearly and calmly and being willing to make bold decisions on occasion when needed.

Monsters:? I was a guest on a fun live podcast show the other day with the amazing Noelle Hipke.? We had fun talking about Monsters, careers, and life.? I’ll share when the recording is posted.? A reader posted about the book and described it as “clever” and “different” and “not a business book, that businesspeople should read.”? I’ll take that!? Also, the book trailer was added to my website if you’ve not been there to look around in a while.? Take a peek:?https://www.drdewett.com/dancing-with-monsters/.

Courses:? Yes, I’m thinking we need a course on leadership courage!? Believe it or not, there appears to be very little out there on the topic.? It’s a fun and important issue.? And…. it can meaningfully be viewed as a skill one can learn.? It sounds like a job for your friendly neighborhood educator – me!? Stay tuned.

Speaking:? I had two client calls the other day, one a small tech firm on the move in Miami and one a small city government team outside of Austin.? Very different clients, yet on both calls the same issue became the focus:? how to get everyone to feel more connected and comfortable so they can take the risks associated with change and improvement.? Solution:? tell them about Dancing with Monsters.? Both booked me – excited!

Until next time – go learn something, maybe help someone, or at least do something interesting!

Get your copy of Dancing with Monsters:? https://amzn.to/3tbdUTV

Watch Todd in action:? https://bit.ly/3EfcDSb

Book Todd:? https://bit.ly/3WHeRB0??

All my links in one place:? https://linktr.ee/drdewett.