How to Lead with Courage

When we think of leaders, we might think of courageous, heroic action figures. A leader might be considered the person in charge of the army, leading the charge and taking the brunt of any enemy attacks. After all, that’s what it means to be a leader in comic books!

Of course, this is not the reality for the leaders I know on the frontline each and every day. The leaders I witness are doers; the problem solvers, managers, teachers, counselors, custodians and parents, where there is very little gunfire or charging. Even though there is no gunfire, our leaders are still required to be courageous and heroic. This courage will be shown in different forms.

Leading Through Action

The best leaders are Action-takers! When we lead through action, we set a positive example for our team and inspire them to take action without fear of failure. In this way, we avoid one of the worst traits that any leader can possess: hypocrisy. Not many things create dissent amongst your team as quickly as being seen to be hypocritical.

Nobody likes being asked to do things they feel their superior is simply unwilling or even afraid to do themselves. You are in charge and with that comes responsibility. Simply giving the worst jobs to your team and not taking part in them yourself is an abuse of power.

“It isn’t confidence that comes first, but taking action. Confidence follows action.” 

–Scott Allan

Decisiveness

Leading through actions also means being decisive. It means being able to quickly make a decision and be willing to commit to that action. Decisiveness means taking swift action using the needs, resources and expertise of the team to ensure continuous improvement. Many leaders make the mistake of putting off and/or avoiding decision-making all together. Fear of making the wrong decision hinders progress and a loss of respect and trust for leadership.

However, being indecisive is worse than making an unwise or incorrect decision. Being indecisive is a sign of weakness. While taking action can result in a negative outcome, delaying a decision will only ever have negative consequences. On the flipside, it is inspiring to see someone who makes quick decisions and does not doubt themselves. Decisiveness ensures your team members are in good hands, building their faith and confidence in your ability to lead.

Responsibility

How is RESPONSIBILITY a mark of a courageous leader? Being willing to accept responsibility comes with the role of being a courageous leader. A good leader doesn’t mean telling others what to do and it certainly doesn’t mean getting to take all the credit. Being a leader means taking responsibility for the team. It means protecting them, creating a safe place to grow so they can do their best work. It means making decisions and being willing to deal with the consequences whether good or bad. Fear of looking bad, often promotes slow decision making.  

Stoicism

Last, being a courageous leader means that you take your lumps when things do go sour.  When mistakes are made, it’s important to not only own up to it, but also remain calm when you are in the heat of battle.  Your team feeds off your energy!  Your actions determine the reaction to a crisis. If you are relaxed and moving with confidence, they will act in the same manner. It is crucial to remain calm in a crisis. Setting a good example when things seem to be going wrong for the team, ignoring people dominated by negative energy prevents your team from going into a panic. A courageous leader focuses on controlling what he/she can and moves around obstacles to ensure progress. Demonstrating stoicism means being able to endure hardships and turbulence without a display of emotions and without complaining to get any job done. 

How to Be the Leader They Need

Where does all this courage and stoicism come from? Does it mean trying to act tough? Not at all. Being a truly great leader comes from having the right priorities. It does not mean you are invincible, it means you are brave enough to take a stand and do what is needed. Oftentimes, it means forgetting yourself and, instead, focusing on the goals of the organization and the needs of the team. When you do that, it is easy to be a courageous leader.  We must always remember, leaders are not born.  They are created in times of need and struggle. Everyone is capable of being a leader in their own way, they just have to be willing to be stoic, action takers who take responsibility for creating success in the people around them.