Leadership Courage
Some days it’s easier to just sit back and take the road that’s been most trampled. Not sure Robert Frost would approve, but there is safety in a well carved out path…regardless if you know where it may lead. You take comfort in that decision because everyone else is heading in the same direction so you can merely put your arms out there and ride the swell. There are few obstacles because they have been removed by those in front of you. You have anticipation about what’s ahead because of the stories that are shared by your “path predecessors”. But, what if the road you are on is the wrong one? What if it’s going to a place that you don’t want to go? What then? How do you gain the clarity and courage to make a turn which could make the difference between a breakthrough innovation and losing ground?
As leaders, the key is not whether we choose the right road to begin with, but how long we stay on a dead-end path before we decide to forge a new one.
With any journey, we must have some clarity about the environment we are traveling in. In the business context, this is environmental scanning, understanding what’s around us in terms of our competitive threats and challenges, our opportunities to leverage our capabilities more efficiently, and, an understanding of any potential needs that are unfulfilled in the marketplace. All these are the signs on any path that many would miss but a proper navigator, or business leader, would notice and study and act upon.
Assess the terrain…current and ahead
What will happen if we take the road less traveled? Who will be impacted and in what ways? What if the idea doesn’t work? Or, sometimes worse, what if it does and your idea is wildly successful?
Lead with confidence and passion.
Passion can create mercy for a multitude of flaws. When we lead with passion, we believe in our actions and, more importantly, the outcome of those actions. If we can see the future and have a picture of what that looks like for the organization, we can begin to communicate the story of this view of the future and the path to get there with passion. When we communicate vision passionately, it is compelling and others can’t help but to join in achieving the common vision. Passion also implies that we have some alignment between our own personal beliefs about the vision and the goals of the organization.
Forge (and Forage) ahead
Once you’ve assessed the situation and made the decision to change course, stand behind your decision. This is different from defending. When you stand behind your decision and it’s a good one, you don’t have to hold it up to defend it. You’ll find that it stands on its own so that you can take a step back and throw out a few questions of your own while you answer inquiries from others. Be honest about the vulnerabilities of your decisions, that will help others to gain confidence that you’ve thought things through. Admit the risk in the course of action. Continue to learn along the path picking up nuggets to use when appropriate.
Leading courageously requires a spirit for adventure that not only expects, but empowers, your employees to consider taking a less populous route. In building this team of pioneers you must lead with conviction, passion and vision. Plotting the course to success is only half the journey. Providing directions through the obstacles and the set-backs effectively is what sets good leaders apart from great ones.
Enjoy the journey!
Kimberly Young
Executive Director