Courage

Build it in yourself and others

Step up. Take point. Try something that has never been done before. Take a risk.

For some people, that’s “living vibrantly.”
For others, though, it sounds terrible— “hard pass.”

However, if we want people to grow, to be empowered, and to lead in more situations, we need to build their confidence. Basically, stepping up to do things requires an internalized sense of “I can do this.”

It’s okay to be scared. Courage is being scared, but doing the right thing anyway.

Build the confidence of your people. Let them know you’ll have their back. Let them know you think they will be great at this after they’ve gotten some practice. Provide training and templates and other learning materials that help them figure out the right way to do things. Be a sounding board for their planning sessions. Let them practice before doing it for real. Expand their comfort zone, so that they get the right amount of nervous energy—the type that helps us focus, not the shaky-and-overwhelmed kind.

(image source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=477473447750840&set=a.291962509635269)