You’ve Got Courage, Yes You Do!

Courage isn't the absence of fear, it is the mastery of it (thanks Mark Twain)...we have got courage, yes we do. We are more courageous than we give ourselves credit for however it is time we call into this courage; now.

It is no secret that the world is crying out for leaders and humans who are courageous, kind, empathetic, resilient, emotionally intelligent and passionate. People who are not afraid to be authentic and be themselves. Great leaders and humans are the ones who don’t strive for perfection, but rather focus on lessons they’ve learnt, valuing their team members and on self-improvement in both their personal and professional lives.

It’s important that we have courageous leaders because the world needs them, especially post-pandemic where many people are still struggling with the toll COVID-19 has taken on their families, jobs and livelihoods. Why? Because courageous people and leaders inspire and motivate their team members to achieve greatness and aren’t afraid to make the tough decisions, while communicating openly, displaying empathy and gratitude. We are now seeing leaders who do not display traits like empathy, kindness and who do not stand up for their community being held accountable by said community.

The struggle is real for many businesses who are experiencing difficulties retaining and attaining staff. This is because employees and job-seekers will no longer tolerate working for leaders and bosses who don’t value them, the work they do or the talents they bring to the business. Instead, employees would rather spend their time looking for a job that appreciates them, has a positive working environment, offers flexibility and gives them a good work-life balance.

I’ve written a book called First Comes Courage which explores the power of leading with courage, and offers great insights and tools to develop, nurture and grow courage within you and your teams. The book introduces you to the courage compass which you can use to guide your teams selflessly, building them up and enabling them with the tools they need to achieve success. You will learn to lead through example, using the four points on the courage compass: Kindness Impact Purpose Resilience. We also teach and facilitate these elements in our leadership programs and coaching and it is transformational!

You can find out more here...

As usual, Harvard Business School has detailed some excellent studies in this story.

Here are just some of the excellent points featured in the article.

·?????96 percent of leaders believe purpose is important to their job satisfaction according to?report by EY.

·?????It was found that purpose builds organisational resilience and improves long-term financial performance in another study by DDI.

·?????According to research by TalentSmart, 90 percent of top performers in the workplace have a high degree of emotional intelligence, compared to 20 percent of bottom performers.

·?????A recent study found that employees’ perception of authentic leadership serves as the strongest predictor of their job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and workplace happiness.

Joining us for the 2022 Virtual Courage Conference?

So, how can you be a more courageous leader and human?

1.???Be Yourself

Authenticity is one of the most important traits in a courageous leader. Authentic leaders are not afraid to be themselves and show off their real selves to team members and the community. They are aware of their strengths, emotions, limitations and do not act one way in public and the other way in private. They are never afraid to own up when they make a mistake and they don’t feel the need to take credit for work their team members have done.

2.???Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a must-have for any leader, especially if they are leading a team to achieve goals, missions or a purpose. Being able to understand and manage your own emotions and those of the people around you, and how you react to them and how they affect other people, takes courage, empathy, kindness and emotional intelligence.

3.???Resilience

In a post-pandemic world, we need resilient leaders who are capable of overcoming hurdles and are not afraid of the challenges that may lie ahead. They remain calm and cool under pressure, open with their team members, and are able to cope and adapt when it comes to disruptions. They are always good at bouncing back and just get on with the job, no matter the situation.

4.???Commitment to purpose

Every successful leader needs a purpose, something they, their colleagues and team members can all work towards. Leaders who are able to identify their purpose and commit to it are more likely to be able to stay focused, especially during hard times. Purpose and values are what sets one leader apart from other leaders, so it’s important for any courageous leader to be able to commit to their purpose.

5.???Empathy

Empathy is the most important leadership skill a leader can have and having a leader with no empathy is one of the reasons why some employees are leaving their jobs. Being an empathetic leader means understanding the needs of others and being aware of their feelings and thoughts. Being more empathetic can also encourage positive work environments and empathy amongst your team members. Having empathy is not a weak trait, it’s one of the most courageous traits you can have.

By?Sonia McDonald?– CEO of?LeadershipHQ?And?McDonald Inc.?Leadership Coach, Global Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, CEO And Award Winning Author.

Sonia McDonald is changing the face of leadership across the globe. She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, and is known for her mantra ‘Just Lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her transformational coaching, leadership training programs and cultural transformation for organisations and encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped thousands of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others.

Sonia is a founder and CEO of?McDonald Inc.,?LeadershipHQ?and?Global Outstanding Leadership Awards?and?2022 Courage Conference. For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of leadership and she is beyond committed to her mission around building a world of great leaders.

She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader. She has been recognised by Richtopia as One of the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Australian Entrepreneurs.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is a leading coach, an award-winning published author of newly released?First Comes Courage, Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It!?and has become an in-demand keynote speaker on leadership, kindness and courage.

Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, kindness, empathy and courage as well as building outstanding leadership across the Globe.?