Leadership Series 1: Courage
Principle and Practice #1: Courage - Promote Responsible Risks
Inspiring others to be courageous, expressive and to feel safe enough to take risks is a fundamental trait when building a better leader. In this new knowledge based global workplace, encouraging your subordinates to take risks will improve your organization’s overall innovation and competitiveness.
What is the best way to foster and support this type of environment?
Step One: Exemplify courageous behavior and language. Always be willing to speak up on the behalf of your beliefs, ideas and staff. If your position on an issue or business dilemma is not in line with your boss or other higher-ups, strategically and respectfully offer your opinion.
Step Two: Let people know that making mistakes is ok. The quickest way to stifle creativity and courageousness is to focus on avoiding mistakes instead of allowing people to learn from them and move on.
Step Three: Encourage your staff to give respectful feedback if they do not agree with your direction or ideas. For many leaders this may be the most difficult step, but if you can commit to this practice, it will be the most rewarding part of the practice.
Leader Activity:
Be honest with yourself and journal about how you have limited the courage of your staff in the past and how you will implement this new practice. If you want, have a conversation about this with a trusted mentor, friend or colleague.
Team Activity: Have a team meeting and ask the following questions:
1. How can I as your leader create a safer environment to embrace change/risk?
2. How can we as a team improve on that?
3. How can all of you as individuals show more vision and courage?
