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Is courage the quality that distinguishes great leaders from ordinary leaders?

We often associate courage with bravery, the strength to persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty… but what does courageous leadership look like in leaders?

There is a great deal written about courage and leadership.

Winston Churchill says that “courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen”

and…

Simon Sinek says that “the courage of leadership is giving others the chance to succeed even though you bear the responsibility for getting things done”.

When I think about courageous leaders these are some of the qualities and behaviours that I believe are at the core of courageous leadership.

Courageous leaders are:

·       Humble

·       Authentic

·       Vulnerable

·       Confident to stand alone

·       Open and transparent

·       Resilient

·       Innovative

·       Comfortable with uncertainty

Courageous leaders: 

·       Take risks

·       Lead by example

·       Trust others

·       Take responsibility

·       Make the difficult decisions

·       Stand up for what they believe in

·       Have the tough conversations 

·       Inspire others

·       Celebrate achievements

·       Listen to the needs of others

·       Challenge the status quo

·       Admit mistakes

Ultimately, it’s Umair Haque’s quote about courage and leadership that strongly resonates with me: “Leadership simply begins with the courage to be yourself, so everyone else can be, too.”

What does courageous leadership look like to you?