Courage - Influence: Becoming the Person Others Want to Follow

Corrie Ten Boom and Frederick Douglass, incredible leaders and beacons of hope to millions, stood in opposition to the status quo during the peak of The Holocaust and American Slavery. Both of these leaders displayed a quality that all others must personify as well. If you desire to “Become the Person Others Want to Follow”, you can learn a lot from Miss Ten Boom and Mr. Douglass.

Courage
Great leaders often show courage. Courage allows us to think outside the box, confront situations, and move outside of the status quo.

Courage drives innovation. Great leaders need to think beyond what others perceive. We need to be ahead of our time and cross borders both physically and intellectually. Courage enables leaders to see far beyond the trivial and momentary problems of today. And that takes courage to press on through difficulty and not to get tripped but by fear or "what if's".

Courage allows you, a leader, to have a sober view of reality. It permits others to offer criticism for growth and you the opportunity to seek it. It gives you the ability to speak truth and stand up for what is right. Courage encourages those around you to do the same. Courage also allows us to hold one another accountable, stepping out of our comfort zones to confront when someone isn’t walking the walk and also allowing others to do the same.

Most people go with the flow and take the path of least resistance. Courage allows a leader to be refreshingly different. When the masses are living in a particular way – courage allows a leader to forge a new path in uncharted territory – a cowboy or maverick if you will.

Those who garner influence are not afraid of what others think about them. That doesn't mean they don't respect criticism, but it means that at the end of the day, they are okay making the unpopular decision if they know it's the right decision.

Two “Case Studies”
Courage sets you apart. Courage allows us to look at situation differently and to ask the right questions. Courage looks slander, physical harm, and persecution in the eyes and does not seek to repay evil with evil.

You want to look up a courageous woman, someone who changed the world? Read a book called The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. During WWII, she sheltered Jews at great expense to her own life and her family’s. All ten of her family members were persecuted to great length because of her actions. Yet Corrie was able to save hundreds if not thousands because of her courage. I’ll let you read the rest of the story to find out how.

Miss Ten Boom passed away before I was born, yet I know her name and am inspired by her story. That is influence.

The point is that she took great risk. She knew the cost. But she stood up for what is right anyway. And her courage emboldened her to display incredible levels of forgiveness, humility, service, sacrifice, and passion. 

Forgiveness and looking past others failures, even when they come at great personal cost and pain, takes courage. Sacrifice, service, humbling ourselves, and even following our passions all take courage.

Another leader who lived these traits and showed great courage knew that he would die for his beliefs before he even opened his mouth. He knew that in stepping out and speaking truth, the culture around him would react radically. Yet he still chose to speak up respectfully, yet publicly because he knew without doing so, no one could truly live.

Eventually he was martyred for his beliefs – and over 70 million have followed suit because they knew what he said was real, life-altering, and purpose-filled. He changed the world and cultures forever.

Your Turn
Do you want to see change in your work place, you classroom, your playing field, or other aspects of your life? Then you need to be courageous.

People fear cultural change and paradigm shifts. Imprisonment, physical harm, and death threats are often all associated with these sweeping movements (Mandela, Ghandi, King, Peter, Paul, Mother Teresa...). Courage enables passionate, convicted leaders to face the most dire of consequences, even penalty of death and push onward.

Courage doesn’t mean we aren’t allowed to be afraid, or that we need to be fearless. It simply means when you are afraid, that you don’t let it stop you in your tracks. You persist.

Action Step
Most people spend their lives waiting for someone to make a decision for them. They are waiting for someone to step out and set themselves apart. When one person has courage to step out, in encourages others to do the same.

Be that person.

Have the courage to make the right decisions. When you make the right decision, others will follow.

That is influence.

Do you believe courage to be one of the essential traits of a leader? If so, where do you find your courage? What inspires you to step out of your comfort zone and do the right thing?

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Dan loves building relationships and encouraging others. He thrives when learning and sharing that knowledge. As a newly wed, he is greatly enjoying this period in life as family takes second in his "Five F's" (see profile). Dan has led various sales teams, served as president of multiple organizations, and coached in athletics. He has presented at leadership conferences and workshops. Dan currently works as a Director of Sales and mentors a group of high schoolers who are looking to grow and excel.

For other posts in this series: Please visit this page.