The country and world for that matter, has been in awe of our front-line workers during the coronavirus crisis—from hospital staff, to bus drivers, to first responders, to grocery store employees—these everyday citizens aren’t just workers, they are true warriors. It is gut-wrenching to even begin to imagine where the world would be without them right now.

I am convinced that there is one personality trait in particular that propels our front-line warriors to “show up” daily and fight this battle against an invisible enemy. That trait is courage.

Aristotle once said that, “courage is the first of human qualities because it’s the quality that guarantees the others.”

 It so happens that courage is a trait that is also crucial for business leaders.

 Oxford dictionary defines courage as:

 The ability to do something that frightens one. (n)

Strength in the face of pain or grief. (n)

If you want to be a successful business leader, you need courage. Front line leaders in business can face major trials and tribulations, for example dealing with product-harm crisis in the food, auto and drug industries, corporate financial and sex scandals, down-sizing due to economic impacts, etc. Although these situations aren’t usually life threatening, the consequences can be detrimental—ultimately having a crippling effect on the organizations and people they lead. Leaders who have courage run toward, not away from problems, controversy, difficult decisions and crisis. Here are a few examples of courageous CEOs:

  • Whole Foods CEO John Mackey took a gamble to courageously speak his truth in a 2009 Wall Street Journal op-ed, The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare. The CEO angered customers and they boycotted the chain; however Whole Foods is thriving today.
  • After 9/11, unlike most companies that were laying off employees left and right, Southwest Airlines CEO James Parker courageously announced that he would not only retain all employees, he would also start a profit-sharing program for them.
  • When Elon Musk decided to create an entirely electric car company and take on Detroit, industry executives snubbed him as arrogant and inexperienced. Musk courageously ignored the pundits and continued to proceed with his plans. Today, Tesla is one of the most coveted cars by consumers.

In business, fear and anxiety that surfaces during times of uncertainty or crisis can breed bad, rash or worse yet, no decisions. It can lead to lack of decisiveness, emotional outburst, lying/cheating, and the like. This inability to be courageous during tough situations can result in loss of customers, a damaged reputation, stock devaluation, or even missed opportunities for example, all of which could lead to less than stellar business outcomes and performance or worse, in the demise of the organization. Leaders who don’t possess courage aren’t likely to survive long in today’s doggy-dog business world.

What’s Your Courage Quotient?

You aspire to be a leader within your company or organization but meanwhile, courage is not something that comes natural for you. Or, maybe you have a hint of the trait and you simply need to sharpen it.

Stop and think about it for a moment. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being extremely courageous, how would you rate your level of courage at work? If you rate yourself below an 8 and you aspire to be a leader, you’ve got some serious courage cultivating to do.

Cultivate Courage

The good news is that courage, like many other leadership traits, can be cultivated by new and aspiring leaders. This article provides great practical ways to foster courage in your everyday life. Additionally, consider cultivating the trait by understanding and trying to develop four key qualities that courageous leaders exhibit:

1.    A sense of duty or greater “calling”: Leaders who have courage often feel a commitment to their work that goes above and beyond their day-to-day job responsibility and/or a salary. They feel a deeper calling to the mission and vision of the organization that is bigger than his/herself. Most see themselves as servant leaders, dedicated to employees, customers, and other organizational stakeholders. They genuinely care about their well-being.

The organization and its stakeholders are what motivate courageous leaders to be on the front-line during times of crisis. It is what they believe they signed up for when they took on the role as a leader. The people working in the grocery stores during this COVID-19 crisis realize that citizens would not have access to food if it weren’t for them “showing up” to work each day. The nurses and doctors knew that when they chose their profession, they had a “calling” to help save lives. Courageous business leaders feel an obligation to employees, customers, and stockholders and will do whatever it takes to maintain the viability of the organization.

This first quality is intrinsic in nature and is usually rooted in respect, admiration, and passion that you have for the problem your organization solves or the value it brings to its customers or constituents. Without this inner sense of compassion, it can be difficult to muster up the courage needed to lead and be on the front-line during crisis. Although I was committed to doing the work and prided myself in excellence when I was in corporate America, I did not feel this deep sense of a greater calling, passion, and purpose until I started my company, ShowUp!

2.    Laser focused on outcomes: Leaders who possess courage keep their eye on the prize. They are results-oriented people and will do whatever it takes to get s*&% done—regardless of obstacles or circumstances. During crisis in particular, their time, energy and efforts are so affixed on identifying solutions and solving problems that result in achieving desired outcomes, there is limited opportunity to fall into the trap of fear. In other words, they consciously or unconsciously put their emotions to the side in the wake of crisis to complete the task at hand.

By having a vision, setting SMART goals, and avoiding tasks and actions that do not line up with your vision and goals, you’ll be more prone to stay focused on results and outcomes rather than fear. First responders for example, are laser focused on protecting people and saving lives, which is the only thing they are focused on when they enter dangerous or threatening situations. Their work responsibilities align with their focus and when crisis ensues, they stay the course.

3.    Risk takers: According to Walt Disney,

“courage is the main quality of leadership, no matter where it is exercised and usually it implies some risk, especially in new undertakings.”

Leaders are often thrust into scenarios that require they take actions and make decisions and judgement calls that could result in failure or negative outcomes. Taking “calculated” risks requires courage. Leaders realize that their ideas may be unpopular or go against the status quo, however it doesn’t stop them from speaking their truth, trusting their gut and making snap decisions. Ultimately, their actions could lead to adverse effects on their organization, but they recognize that the potential reward outweighs the risk.

To learn about taking risk as a leader, all you have to do is observe the actions and decisions of entrepreneurs. Check out the article, 12 Entrepreneurs On the Big Risk They Took That Paid Off. Entrepreneurs are known for taking risks. I would further assert that it is impossible to be an entrepreneur without a willingness to take risks. I can also personally assure you that if you are risk adverse, you can become more at ease taking risks. I have seen my capacity to take risk expand significantly since starting my business a little over seven years ago. 

4.    Hold themselves and others accountable: Courageous leaders are less likely to make excuses—instead, they are adept at owning their words, actions, and behavior. If something goes wrong in the organization and they are at fault, they don’t try to rationalize the outcome, point fingers, or hide the truth. They admit to wrongdoing and accept consequences.

Being accountable takes having a strong back bone. Leaders who are courageous aren’t afraid to take accountability by fully disclosing facts, expressing regret, and apologizing when appropriate. Similarly, they are unafraid to engage in difficult and courageous conversations to hold their teams accountable for how they behave and what they do and say.

There is Always Good that Comes from Crisis

Even with all of the chaos and sorrow we are living through, there is still light. That light comes from the courage our first line “warriors” have displayed, the many lives that have been saved, and the heightened sense of gratitude many people in the world feel.

As a new or inspiring leader in business, in moments that you face fear and uncertainty in times of crisis or difficulty, you and those who follow in your footsteps will always be able to think about the COVID-19 front line warriors to inspire you to muster up the courage that you need to lead through it.

This post is dedicated to the COVID-19 front line warriors all over the world. Thank you for your service and courage.

In deep gratitude,

Annette

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on the article. Also, if you enjoyed the post, please share the article with your network!

About ShowUp! The company – aptly named “ShowUp!” – takes a results-oriented approach to advancing our mission. Launched in 2007, we are based in the Washington DC area and have fast become a go-to resource for female and male leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, politicians and organizations who are committed to raising the bar and ‘showing up’ for the successes they deserve. Through targeted corporate training facilitation from entry level through executive, group keynotes and workshops, and individualized one-on-one coaching, we make an impact through personal brand coaching, executive presence and perception management, individualized personal style consulting and business etiquette. www.showupllc.com