How Do You Define Courage?
On Courage: "The stories of past courage can define by ingredient - they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul. " - John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States and author of the Pulitzer Prize winner, Profiles in Courage.
I've been thinking about courage a lot these days. What does courage mean?
In my early years, I thought I lacked this noble quality. Quite the opposite, I saw myself as a coward until I learned an important lesson. Courage was there for me all along. I just didn't know it.
Long after I overcame my internal struggles with courage, I devoted myself to leadership excellence. And in that context, I write about, talk about and coach others espousing courage as one of the essential qualities of great leadership.
How do you define courage?
The courage to lead is a big step. But what is leadership? And what does it mean to be a courageous leader?
It can be seen as taking a stand for something. It can be choosing a path that others have neither the will nor inclination to follow.
Courage is following your conscience. It's that gut feeling you have when you know something isn't right.
It's having the courage to step outside your comfort zone and then take action. It's having the conviction to challenge yourself to grow and stand by that conviction.
On Leadership
Leadership then, is the conviction to forge a different path that leads to growth, growth of self, growth of your business, and growth of your community, and one that others will follow.
Courage is allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Courage is acknowledging to yourself that you don't have all the answers.
Having the courage to trust your instincts is probably one of the hardest.
Sometimes it's having the courage to make a decision based on incomplete information. Honestly, most decisions you make are made in a soup of conflicting data and uncertainty.
There are times when courage demands that you make a hard and impossible choice. Usually, the only way you will know that your choice was the right one is with hindsight.
The best you can hope for in these situations is that you've made the best choice given all the available information in the circumstances.
A Purpose-Driven Approach
Being a CEO or a Managing Partner can be a lonely job. But you don't have to do it alone.
How do you avoid making the wrong choices? Surround yourself with others who have skills you lack and that are aligned with your purpose.
These are not "yes" men (or women). They aren't driven by their own personal desires, but rather, by the desire to do what's best for the firm and the community that you and they serve.
To mitigate the risk of making a poor choice, consider and evaluate the downside. What is the risk that this is a bad decision? Is it worth the risk?
If you're driven to do what is best for your company and community aligned with your purpose, you'll find the right choices that the moment requires.
More on Leadership
If you are clear on the purpose of why your company exists and have built a culture that is centered on that purpose, you have a better chance of making good choices.
Here are a few thoughts on leading courageously and with a purpose-driven mindset:
Be the Chief Culture Officer - it takes constant effort. Lead the way by example. As the leader, "everything flows from you".
Be clear on why your company exists.
Hire based on purpose. Have the courage to let others go who aren't aligned.
Encourage a culture of innovation.
Challenge the status quo and enable others to do the same.
Strengthen your self-awareness.
In decision-making, slow it down. Give yourself time to reflect and ponder.
Consider the downside risks.
Seek advice and input. Don't go it alone.
Be bold.
"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction" - John F. Kennedy
Until next time!
