Brave Leadership: It is more than being courageous

Do you work with a brave leader? Are you a brave leader yourself? Being brave in leadership isn’t just about being courageous; it is about doing what is right, even when doing what is right is hard. To be a brave leader, one must have several distinct values and characteristics that show up in everything they do. 

Standing up and leading isn’t easy. It takes bravery, empathy, and a confident mindset in order to succeed.

First, brave leaders have a high standard of accountability.

They hold themselves accountable first, then their team. Accountability cannot be ‘do as I say, not as I do’ and it also cannot be a popularity contest, where the ‘leader’s pet’ is allowed to bypass expectations. While I agree leaders should treat employees differently, giving high performers more of their attention, having clear expectations and holding oneself and all others to those expectations sets the tone for everything that follows as a leader. 

Second, brave leaders have integrity.

They do what is right always, regardless of who is in the room. They are also dependable, and everyone knows if they commit to doing something they will follow through. How many have had a leader who agreed to something and weeks later, you’re having to follow-up with them because they did not deliver on their promise? I suspect if you’ve experienced that once from a leader you were probably understanding, after all, leaders are human. I am not talking about the one-time occurrence of a leader forgetting, I am referencing those who you lose confidence in because follow-through is not the norm. We all know those kind of leaders, and if you’re lucky, you do not work for one. 

Brave leaders are comfortable not only embracing those who have a different point of view than them, they intentionally invite them to their table. They know the importance of surrounding themselves with others who will (respectfully) challenge them and their ideas. It is through this confidence that effective leaders build a team of unlike-minded people, to create an environment of innovation and synergy. We cannot expect leaders to know everything, and as we’ve often heard, the goal of leadership is not to be the smartest person in the room, rather it is to build a team who knows more than you, so you keep moving forward. 

Brave leaders are vulnerable. They are willing to admit when they make mistakes, they are willing to ask for help when they need it and through this vulnerability, they build trust with those around them. Authenticity is seen through vulnerability, and brave leaders are willing to be authentically themselves. 

Finally, brave leaders are never silent during difficult times.

They are willing to speak up and ask the hard questions. They do not shy away from difficult conversations and are not afraid to speak unpopular opinions. Part of being a leader is leading…from the front, and you cannot lead from the front if you are always falling in line with what others say or do for the sake of being popular. 

So, your challenge today is to be courageous, be brave and watch how that impacts your reputation as a leader!

Want to learn more and follow along for more talk on leadership and the impact it has on your workplace and culture? Follow me on LinkedIn and stay up-to-date!