Courage is a requirement for success and has been acknowledged as a need throughout history.
Wikipedia defines courage as:
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation;…Moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement. In some traditions, fortitude holds approximately the same meaning as courage.
Being courageous is a must for strong and effective leadership. You must be true to yourself and allow your conscience to guide you through unpopular decisions.
Aristotle said: Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.
Ernest Hemingway said: courage is grace under pressure.
Winston Churchill said: Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Abraham Lincoln said: It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.
Leadership, like life, requires courage. And, when you combine courage with a strong sense of awareness (of self and others), with a commitment for growth and development, your comfort zone expands and we more readily accept and lead others through change.
Fear is an inhibitor, but when recognized and linked with courage, it can produce great results, create inspirational thoughts, and be liberating.
Expand your life and your leadership skills and behaviors!
Embrace your feelings of both fear and courage to acknowledge and manage the challenges you face. This will better position you to live your dream (which coincidentally is the first of twelve components found in our 12 Steps For Courageous Leadership!).
12 Components That Require Courage
- Have and live your dream.
- Document your goals.
- Commit to your goals.
- Understand your strengths and the strengths of others.
- Communicate.
- Address conflict.
- Develop others.
- Delegate.
- Develop a skill.
- Remain controlled.
- Give rewards.
- Succeed and learn from failure.