In times of great uncertainty, the call for courageous leaders is greater than ever. As you know, it takes a good amount of courage to be an effective leader. I believe that even if you have fears that have kept you from leadership roles in the past you can overcome them and stand tall as a leader when called upon.
The ability to make decisions is a key indicator of effective leadership. Even those small decisions you make in your personal and business life are a testament to your decision-making ability and your growing courage. Something as simple as refusing a rich dessert because you want to stay fit is a decision that takes a certain amount of courage and self-discipline
Bigger decisions that you’ve made in the past may have required the courage of a lion. For example, the difficult decision to quit a high-paying job to follow your life’s dream or the decision to walk away from an unhealthy long term relationship. Both of these types of decisions are major and take a lot of courage. Then there are those decisions that may seem unimportant at the moment, but later you may see that they were actually life-changing.
Courage promotes confidence and self-esteem and builds a framework in which you can accomplish pretty much anything you set out to do, including becoming an effective leader.
Working through your greatest fears to develop the courage to do something remarkable can lead you to success as a leader. Here are some simple steps you can take to support and help you build the courage you need to be the leader you were born to be:
- Create a positive environment – Surround yourself with “like-minded” people who are positive and who believe in you. When you are building new skills and developing your talents those who will bolster your self-confidence and increase your self-worth are priceless.
- Maintain a positive attitude – Dealing with issues that challenge you can be turned into an opportunity for success. Try to think of each challenge in your life as an opportunity to use your strategic skills and instincts to overcome and triumph.
- Get out of your comfort zone – You’ll never develop courage if you stay stuck in a rut. Each day, find something challenging and outside of what you normally do and try it. When you open yourself to various situations, you learn and grow.
- Don’t let fear hold you back – Humans can become fearful of anything. Even situations that are supposed to be happy can become fearful if you over-think the situation. Get rid of those “what ifs” in your mind and replace them with positive, affirming thoughts.
- Enjoy the struggle – Yes, you can enjoy the challenges that life brings if you know that it’s building the courage inside you that will spur you on to bigger and better things. Life’s challenges only serve to make you a stronger and more courageous person.
Each time you accomplish your goal or overcome a deeply rooted fear, your confidence will grow stronger. The courage of a true leader is accomplished by taking small steps and overcoming one challenge at a time, so take the small, yet powerful steps to build your courage. I think you will be amazed at the impact this will have on building your courage as a leader.
Be well + prosper,
Elaine xx