Whoever coined the phrase “fearless leader” must not have been a leader. Because “fear” and “leadership” go together hand in hand. Talk to any effective leader and they will tell you that fear has been a lifelong companion on their leadership journey. Anytime you push the envelope, launch a new initiative, or stake out new territory, you…
3 Leadership Truths That Can Turn “Fearless” into “Courageous”
The idea of the “fearless leader” owes more to myth than it does to leadership reality. The goal is not to be fearless, the goal is to be courageous. There’s a world of difference. A fascinating conversation I had with a professional athlete painted a vivid picture of this. During my college days, I supported…
How To Develop The Courage To Lead In Challenging Times
In today’s turbulent times, leaders are being called upon to lead with more courage than ever before. But how can you lead courageously, when you’re just not feeling particularly brave? One glance at the ongoing crisis in eastern Europe reveals inspiring examples of courageous leadership in action. But while most leaders will never be called…
Why Leaders Should Never Simply Stick with “What They’re Good At”
Two happenings took place last week which not only created quite a stir in literary circles, but which also provided a powerful lesson in leadership. The first happening was the long-awaited release of J.K. Rowling’s first book in five years. The book, titled The Casual Vacancy, is aimed at adults and is her first book…