Courageous Leaders Blog

I was reading the other day and came across this quote from Irving Wallace:
"To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity. "

I love the essence of his words and it got me thinking about the current reality we face in the business environment right now - existing leaders reluctant to be vulnerable and show their soft underbelly preferring to surrender to the conformity of positional power - where they know everything and have control and have answers for questions asked!

How different could things be if our leaders were unafraid to be themselves? They could remove the facades and be the real people we all yearn they would be.

We would love to hear from any of you reading this blog - what do you think and feel about this?

Too many leaders confuse opinion with facts - especially those with strong opinions who seem to shout down other opinions!

My recent research found me exploring the "linguistic trap" - where we treat our opinions as facts and we do this through the language we use and find ourselves trapped by them. We stop seeing things differently and become limited by our opinions .....our truth. And because our ego doesn't like to be wrong we tend to make sure our opinions DO become our truth. Think of some of those opinions you have made sure evolved into your truth?

Courageous Leaders own their opinions AS opinions and are prepared to have them challenged.

Reading this quote from Anais Nin created beautiful imagery:

" And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

In my experience of coaching many senior people aspiring to their penultimate career transition this is so true - it is time to break out and have the courage to be themselves. I recall one very senior existing leader describing himself as Mr Cellophane Man.......he had completely lost touch of who he was, what he stood for and how he wanted to be perceived in every role he undertook in life.

It takes great courage to discover who you are when you are being at your best and even more courage to stay true to this.

Many leaders keep their facades in place for far too long, losing their way or creating such tension in their lives that yes it becomes more painful to remain tight in the bud!

Taking the risk to blossom relieves the tension and empowers you to walk toward your future with passion and energy. Courageous leaders experience this because they discover themselves and importantly stay true to themselves.