cour·age
noun \ˈkər-ij, ˈkə-rij\
Definition of COURAGE
: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
– Definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
When it comes to defining courage, the key phrase is: “and withstand.” Courage is not about fearlessness. It is about being afraid and moving forward anyway. It is about pursuing a passion—a purpose—that is greater than one’s fear.
In his book, Next Generation Leader, Andy Stanley identifies courage as one of the “five essentials for those who will shape the future.” I’ve struggled with this emphasis on courage because courage seemed to be more of a personality trait than a skill. And, requiring a leader to have a certain personality trait reminded me of the outdated “Great Man” leadership theories. These theories essentially said that leaders are born, not made, and all great leaders share a certain set of personality traits. Contrastingly, at Inta-Great, we subscribe to the transformational and serving leadership theories—theories that focus on skills and competencies leaders can learn and develop.
However, after moving along in my leadership journey, and watching others on theirs, I have come to realize that Andy Stanley is right. Courage is essential to leadership. But what I have also come to realize is that courage is less of a personality trait you are born with and more of an attitude that is cultivated. [Look for another post about how to cultivate courage in the near future.]
So, why is courage so important to leadership? As it was defined earlier, courage involves persevering in the face of “danger, fear, or difficulty.” Danger, fear, and difficulty tend to result from ambiguity and uncertainness about the future. And, if there is one area leaders specialize in, it is ambiguity and uncertainty. At Inta-Great we define leadership as, “A service-oriented relationship by which change occurs as a leader influences a group of individuals toward a common purpose.” One of the key words in this definition is “change.”
Leaders influence change toward a common purpose. Change is inherently difficult, and sometimes frightening. It involves leaving the realm of “what is” for “what could be.” Leaders are not content to relax, put their feet up, and pat themselves on the back. Instead, they are leaning forward, looking toward the future, and thinking about how things could be even better—and yet, thinking about it is not enough.
How many people at your workplace have opinions about what should change in the organization? Probably a lot. Most people have ideas about how communication could be improved, what new products should be developed, what management should be doing, etc. But, they are not doing anything about it. Contrastingly, leaders at all levels are those who not only see the opportunities, but seize the opportunities—taking steps toward making change happen despite the inherent risk and uncertainty. This requires courage.
Sometimes taking the risk pays off. The leader is successful and achieves what he or she sets out to achieve. And, in some ways this is what one is taught when studying leadership. If you follow this approach—if you utilize these essentials of leadership, or these four factors of transformational leadership, etc.—you will be successful. But sometimes this doesn’t happen. Sometimes a leader will do everything right—cast a great vision for the future, empower those around him or her, etc.—and he or she will fail. What happens then?
Recently, my mentor, a successful and engaging woman, set out on a new path. She felt led to pursue what many called an impossible goal. She knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but her vision of what could be and her passion to serve others gave her the courage to try anyway. And try she did. She gave 110%, made some great progress, inspired many along her way, but in the end, she failed. She did not achieve her goal.
So once again, she, and other leaders who have failed or will fail, must tap into the power of courage. This time, courage will be needed to pick oneself up, identify one’s next goal, and begin working toward it. As Mary Anne Radmacher has said, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”
While everyone needs time to “lick their wounds” so to speak, leaders refuse to let failure define them. Instead, they use it to strengthen them. Leaders know that failures are great learning opportunities. They know that failure experiences are hard, but they help the leader cultivate wisdom for next time. Sometimes failure is a necessary perquisite for success. This is the risk the leader is willing to take.
Why is the leader willing to take such a risk? As we’ve already discussed, the passion and purpose the leader is pursuing is a strong motivator. But, there is something else. The best leaders understand that failure, while it hurts in the moment, is a passing thing. Regret is not. The regret that comes from not trying—from missed opportunities—can last a lifetime. So, even more than failure, leaders fear regret. They understand the adage, “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”
So, while my mentor may not have achieved her goal, she can rest in knowing that tomorrow, or next month, or next year, or twenty years from now, she will never have to look back at her life and wonder “What if…” “What if I would have taken that risk?” “What if I would have left my comfort zone?” Instead, she will know that she worked hard, made a lot of progress, inspired many individuals, and paved the way for those who will come after her.
And now, in some ways she has an even bigger opportunity than those who achieve their goals—for it is during times of trial and darkness that one’s true character really shines. By refusing to let this experience define her, she will go on to impact even more. I know for me, she remains a source of inspiration and a great lesson in courage and leadership. Finally, it is my hope, that others will be inspired by her story to act courageously. For as we have seen, courage is essential to leadership.
-Written by Valerie Faust, Director of Blossom & Flourish and Training & Development Consultant
Inta-Great 