Why Should You Train for Courage?

If you are wondering, “What is this courage stuff, and why should I train for courage?” I’ve got some answers to those questions in this post, plus at the end, I’ve got a free downloadable resource for you.

If you want to learn about courage, you also have to learn about fear.

The intricate dance between courage and fear is a prevalent theme in many aspects of life. Especially within the confines of our workplaces. Sadly, in numerous organizational settings, fear is wielded as a tool by leaders in an attempt to spur motivation among their teams. Yet, it’s important to recognize that fear doesn’t just reside in the corner office; it permeates throughout the entire organization. What we must acknowledge is that fear is detrimental to the vitality of any business. While it may initially drive employees to work harder, faster, or longer, it ultimately stifles their inclination to tackle new challenges or voice crucial insights.

Are you witnessing employees attempting to divert attention from issues or conceal mistakes? Are you noticing a decline in overall engagement? Do you see your teams adhering to the status quo, devoid of innovative ideas? Are high levels of distrust and dysfunction becoming commonplace? Is turnover plaguing your organization?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re undoubtedly grappling with the corrosive effects of fear.

Courage serves as the foundation, the cornerstone upon which other virtues are built and fortified. By nurturing courage within your organization, tasks such as leadership, teamwork, communication, change management, and continuous improvement become markedly more manageable. I firmly believe that everyone possesses the capacity for courage; it merely requires activation.

Train for Courage Illustrated

Allow me to illustrate how courage can catalyze transformative change. I am thoroughly enamored with my work. Whether planning and leading training sessions for clients, delivering speeches at conferences, or engaging with remarkable individuals at expos, I am deeply fulfilled by my role. Embracing challenges wholeheartedly, I immersed myself in podcasts, devoured books, and charted ambitious plans for the year ahead. Rather than succumbing to intimidation or fear, I seized the opportunity with gusto, fueled by an unwavering belief in the growth potential.

This underscores the critical need for courage within organizations. When individuals operate from a place of courage and conviction, they exhibit heightened levels of personal accountability, engage in confident upward communication, embrace change with enthusiasm, foster transparency, and openness, and proactively seize initiative, among other attributes.

Therefore, you and your organization must prioritize and cultivate courage through targeted training initiatives. By instilling a culture of courage, you empower your teams to navigate challenges with resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination, thereby propelling your organization toward sustainable success.

I think courage can show up in the workplace in three ways:

  • Try Courage – the courage of action and pioneering first attempts
  • Trust Courage – the courage to rely on the actions of others
  • Tell Courage – the courage of using your voice and speaking up

Additional Resources

I’ve prepared a free PDF download that tells you even more about the three types of courage and some tips for activating your courage in each area. Just click here to access it.

What action have you been avoiding in your professional life, and what are the reasons behind you not taking the plunge?

 

Updated February 2024

Image by Alexa from Pixabay.

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