Be Courageous

Posted by Ann Deaton 1 Comments

Courage is one of those under-emphasized aspects of leadership that I believe is critical to a leader's success. What do you know about courage? What do you believe? What do you still need to learn?

One of the books about courage that I have really appreciated is Bill Treasurer's Courage Goes to Work, which shares ideas about three types of courage--Tell, Trust, and Try courage--all of which are essential to a leader's success. Read Treasurer's book to discover where you are naturally courageous, and where you might want to build your courage. Chances are that you are not equally courageous in each of these areas.

Another resource I ran across just this morning is a book called Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously. Though I'm not yet far into the book, I was stopped in my tracks by one notion: Osho’s assertion that since all of life is uncertain,courage might be defined as “the very readiness to remain in uncertainty.” (p. xii). As I reflect on this, I realize how much courage it takes to be in that place of not knowing, and how powerful we become as leaders when we do not rush to be certain, nor react impulsively when what we "know for sure" is no longer true.

My challenge to you:

How will you exercise today?

• Will you trust someone with a task they might not do your way?
• Will you choose to dwell in uncertainty as you experience the gifts it might offer for learning?
• Will you try something you've never done before?

Be courageous!

⇐ Previous Post: SnagAJob leaders exper... Next Post: Teachers as Learners -... ⇒

Ann Deaton I am a leadership coach, and Managing Partner in Bounce. I love to coach and facilitate with individuals and systems experiencing significant change and growth. The clients I work with, regardless of their age or position, are talented and creative individuals willing to look with fresh eyes at their challenges and opportunities, and to take action based on their discoveries. As a result, they find that they are capable of accomplishing far greater things than they ever imagined. What do you want to accomplish today? Who do you want to be?