#Leadership Virtues – Courage: Why it is essential for leaders

What does it mean to be courageous as a leader?

Courage is one of 12 indispensable core virtues of leadership. It is a source of inner strength that empowers you to take risks, face complex challenges and overcome fears. As a courageous leader, you stand up for your beliefs, take responsibility, and maintain steadfastness even in the most turbulent times. True courage is revealed not only in big decisions, but also in everyday decisions and in constructive conflict management.

The world today needs more managers who have the courage to make unpopular decisions instead of trying to please their superiors and employees as much as possible. The question that arises is simple: are you the type of leader who takes risks to create change, or are you the type of leader who stays in your comfort zone and lets your company stagnate? Anyone who believes that managers only make decisions and give instructions has not yet grasped the true essence of leadership. Leadership is more than that: it requires courage, foresight and the willingness to break new ground and promote innovation.

Leading Boldly: An Essential Skill for You to Develop

Courage in leadership does not mean making overconfident decisions and thereby acting thoughtlessly, but rather the ability to make decisive decisions despite fears and insecurities and to use them as fuel for these decisions. In a world as fast-paced as today, there is enormous pressure on leaders, accompanied by the constant fear of failure and uncertainty about the future. It is precisely in these moments that courage proves to be an indispensable core competency in leadership.

View courage as a learnable virtue that you can continually hone. It's not about not feeling fear, but rather about acting despite that fear. Often our deepest fears are less about tangible dangers and more about fear of failure and the feeling of embarrassment.

Keep in mind: As a courageous leader, you inspire your team and create an environment in which others have the opportunity to grow beyond themselves. Courage in leadership is therefore not only a personal quality, but also a key to promoting the potential of your entire team.

8 key questions to strengthen your courage

The following questions will help you gain a deeper understanding of your attitude towards courage and find ways to act more courageously:

• In which situations have I shown courage and faced challenges in the past?
• When have there been times in my past when I decisively made an unpopular decision that then turned out to be beneficial to you?
• Do I remember a situation where I avoided making a decision and it ended up having negative consequences for me?
• What complex and perhaps unpopular decisions do I currently face? What is stopping me from tackling this with courage?
• Which of my goals require bold steps and how can I mentally prepare myself to show that determination?
• What specific beliefs or reference experiences exist in my past that prevent me from making courageous decisions?
• Who are the people I consider to be courageous role models and how can they serve as inspiration for me?
• How can I establish a culture of courage in my team or organization where determination and courage are not only recognized but also rewarded?

Develop your leadership courage today!

Are you ready to become a better leader through more courage and to advance your company sustainably?

Courage is one of the 12 core virtues in leadership and is a crucial behavioral competency for excellent leadership. Start with the quick and free BeBest! test to get an initial assessment of your behavioral skills. Stay tuned for my upcoming blog posts where I will also discuss the remaining 11 leadership virtues!

If you would like additional support in developing your potential as a manager and your behavioral skills, please connect with me on LinkedIn or arrange a non-binding meeting . I would be happy to support you with my expertise and accompany you on your path to leadership excellence.