What comes to mind when you think of being courageous?
Maybe your mind sees visions of brave and heroic deeds like climbing Mount Everest, sky diving or rescuing someone at sea.
All of these are most certainly what courage looks like. However, it also looks like sweaty palms, shaking hands and a stammering voice.
Courage is not the absence of fear – rather, courage acknowledges fear and doesn’t let it have the final say.
WHAT IS COURAGE?
Courage comes from the Latin – cor or heart. It is the same root word as the Spanish “corazon” (heart) and the French, cor (from the heart). Brené Brown (a research professor who has spent the past two decades studying courage) says courage is about the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to be open and honest with ourselves and others about who we are and about our experiences – good and bad.
Speaking from our hearts is courage.
WHAT COURAGE IN THE WORKPLACE MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU
Courage may look like holding yourself and others accountable for what you actually do and what you said you were going to do.
It might look like calling out disrespectful behaviour, ego projections and when someone breaks your trust.
And, it also might look like having the awareness and empathy to understand the impact decisions and behaviour (yours or others) is having on your team, your company and your customers.
FIVE WAYS TO BUILD COURAGE AT WORK
- Get clear on your purpose
- Ask questions and listen to understand
- Speak succinctly with candour
- Be open to input
- Tame your inner critic
TAKING COURAGEOUS ACTION
It takes bravery to accept responsibility for the position you find yourself in. It takes courage to hold yourself accountable for every decision, action, attitude and results in your life, and learn from your mistakes and to reflect on your choices. A thin line separates positive from negative, and success from failure. The only thing between the two is your choice, and the first step in taking accountability is having the courage to acknowledge and then accept reality.
REFLECTING ON COURAGE
What is the reality you most need to acknowledge in order to achieve the results you want? Consider the feedback you have received recently or at any time in your professional career. Do you need courage to:
- See: What were you choosing not to see?
- Change: What new perspective could you take on it now?
- Develop: How can this situation help your future development?