Sonia McDonald says bravery isn’t always about leading the charge. More often, just winning the respect of their teams by working hard for them makes leaders brave.
The leaders who get the best results and achieve their goals are brave, even when times are tough.
Bravery isn’t just about doing heroic things all the time; being vulnerable and other behaviour and attitudes are just as brave.
Here are five signs that you’ve been a brave leader.
You take responsibility and don’t blame others:
Brave leaders are those who put their hand up and take responsibility for things, good or bad.
They don’t throw anyone under the bus or try to shift blame; that’s what cowards do.
Upper management will also appreciate this quality, so you’re showing your bravery by doing this.
You always act with integrity — no matter what:
Leaders who act with integrity are especially great because they do the right thing even when there is no one watching.
People will see your reliability and trustworthiness when they know you’ll do what you say you will, and when you said you’d do it.
Holding yourself accountable and sticking to commitments is one of the marks of an effective and brave leader.
You recognise loyalty and are loyal yourself:
Being loyal to your team and organisation may seem like an obvious sign, but if you’re loyal even when times are tough, that’s when you’re the bravest.
Recognising and appreciating loyalty is also brave; it takes courage to stand up for those who have stood by you.
Showing appreciation in this way makes your relationship stronger as well.
You lead by example:
Following on from having integrity (like we mentioned in point two) is leading by example and taking charge.
Of course, leaders should delegate and instruct their team, but unless you’re doing as you say, you’re being hypocritical and that can lose you a lot of respect.
Leading by example might not be noticed as quickly as other traits or behaviour, but you’ll continue being a brave leader if you keep doing what you know needs to be done, and doing it the same way you asked your team to do it.
You never give up, thanks to your sense of duty:
Taking the easy way out by giving up and quitting is a sign of weakness, especially in leaders.
Brave leaders feel a sense of duty to get the task done no matter what.
Even if the job has a big chance of not being successful, or not being up to a high standard, your sense of duty means you’ll still do your very best.
Brave leaders must have this quality, and it motivates your team when they look to you for guidance and see that you’re still forging ahead, despite reservations.
Hopefully, you see a few, if not all of these signs in yourself as a leader.
Either way, it gives you something to strive for and reflect on, which great leaders are always doing.
Bravery isn’t always heroics, sometimes just being loyal and working hard makes you brave.
Brave leaders are the ones that go on to achieve great things, so start practising being brave now.
*Sonia McDonald is the Chief Executive and founder of Brisbane-based LeadershipHQ,. She can be contacted at soniamcdonald.com.au.
This article first appeared on the Leadership HQ website.
