The case for courage at work

Terri Jacke

Guest Columnist

April 5, 2023

Courage is the ability to do something difficult even when there is risk.

Courage, which can often contribute to one’s character, is a moral quality that is routinely demonstrated by successful leaders in ways big and small.

Recently, I had a conversation with a team of leaders who have been asked to demonstrate courage in order to manage the leadership succession process within their organization.

A situation that requires courage
Each team leader is poised to assume broader roles within their firm in the coming months as the founder and CEO moves toward retirement.

As such, the responsibility and decision-making authority of the emerging executive team members has been significantly expanded.

To ensure the executive team has appropriate space to step into their newly expanded roles, the CEO asked them to point out to him if he oversteps his now narrowed authority.

His genuine concern is that he will continue to operate out of years of habit and experience. 

He wants the leadership team to identify and address any such situations so he can correct his behavior and honor their new roles.

The CEO has mentored each of the leaders for years.

They admire and respect him, and they are grateful for the positive impact he has had on their careers – successful careers that have provided handsomely for them and their families.

Now, these leaders are in positions where they are expected to challenge their revered mentor, asking him to respect the boundaries of their new roles if or when he unwittingly violates them. Never mind the fact the CEO helped to clarify the leaders’ new roles and define those boundaries, the leaders must now point out to the CEO when he unintentionally oversteps them.

All of this led to a rich discussion about courage.

The team members assessed it would take a great deal of courage for each of them to address role clarity issues with the CEO as they inevitably come up.

Why courage is necessary at work
Conversations in which you are confronting the behavior of another person at work – your leader, no less – can seem daunting for a variety of reasons.

As the team and I determined, it is up to you to summon your courage so you can:
Overcome fear – It takes courage to confront another person, especially if you are afraid of their reaction. Fear of rejection, retaliation or confrontation can cause you to avoid bringing up difficult topics or issues, such as alerting your leader to the fact he is overstepping the boundaries of your role as in the example above.Uphold standards – Confronting the behavior of other people at work requires courage because it often means holding them accountable to standards, values and agreed-upon boundaries (or roles and responsibilities) that are important to you and your organization.Resolve conflicts – Confrontation is often necessary to resolve conflicts or misunderstandings between coworkers. Courage is required to address these issues openly and honestly, without fear of negative consequences.Maintain professionalism – Confronting another person’s behavior – especially your leader’s behavior – at work can be difficult because it requires you to maintain a level of professionalism and respect. It takes courage to express your concerns in a way that is respectful and constructive, rather than confrontational or aggressive.Build trust – Confronting someone’s behavior can also be an opportunity to build trust and strengthen relationships. It takes courage to have difficult conversations, but by doing so, you can build a stronger foundation for communication and collaboration in the future.
Remember that courage is not something that happens overnight – it takes practice and effort.
By taking small steps, facing your fears and building your confidence, you can increase your courage.
 
Terri Jacke is the founder and president of Inspired Training Institute, Inc., an executive coaching and organizational development firm, and author of Is “This a Lousy Job or Is It Me?: A Real-Life Guide for Achieving Success at Work.”