Stepping Up to the Next Level to Become a Courageous Leader

Opportunities for “courageous leadership” at work occur nearly every day. From speaking up during a company meeting to overcoming an obstacle that hinders professional advancement, these instances are often the defining moments of a person’s career. Unfortunately, most people don’t claim courage as one of the primary virtues they display at work. They mistakenly believe courage is only relevant during perilous times. As a result, they don’t perceive exploring new ideas, confronting gossip, transitioning to a new career, transcending rejection, or taking initiative as courageous leadership moments.

Applying courage at work
The word courage comes from the French corage, meaning “heart and spirit.” Historically, great leaders always acted from their hearts, but notions of courage as heroic have diminished this heartfelt value. By developing the following actions in yourself, you’ll be better able to call upon true courage when needed:
• Give yourself permission to be courageous! Why would some people choose to give themselves permission to claim and apply their courage at work? Do you have the courage to declare your courageous intention? Most people are reluctant to give themselves permission. Why? Their lives will change! They also know exactly when they were not being true to themselves and when their controlled lives no longer worked.

Giving yourself permission to be courageous halts complacency and prepares you to be the spirit you were meant to be. Before you can take courage to work, you must claim your personal courage. The act of courage is measured in the heart. Once you act with courage at work, your career will naturally “step up” to its next level. The ancient Chinese proverb says, “He who hesitates before each step spends his life on one leg.” Ask yourself: Are you willing to discover your personal courage and live your life in a new way? Do you have the courage to unlock and discover your identity?

Join me later in the month to learn how you can!

I would love for you to share your courage comments by posting them below.

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an organizational effectiveness consultant, speaker, internationally published author of bestseller COURAGE, trainer and courage coach. She is certified in the Enneagram and MBTI®. Please visit www.walstoncourage.com.