Courage is a word we hear often when discussing cancer patients, firefighters and police officers. We don’t hear it frequently enough when it comes to leadership.
Courage comes from a French translation meaning “rage of the heart.” It originated with horses who had to jump over something. In order to do so successfully, they have to send their heart over the fence first and then the body follows.
Courage is often a leap of faith. We take action leading with our heart. We act in the face of fear, doubt or uncertainty, not in its absence.
Leadership requires courage. Courage to:
- Have difficult conversations
- Make bold choices
- Take a stand
- Stay true to our values
- To make a change
These actions require that we are true to our hearts and that we trust and follow them. As leaders, jumping over obstacles, like horses jumping over fences, necessitates leading with courage.