Question: What does ‘courage’ mean in the Legitimate Leadership Model?

Answer: Courage is not about thoughts and feelings but about words and deeds. Courageous leaders face what needs to be faced and do what needs to be done for the greater good of others. Courage in a leader is notable in the following respects:

1. Leaders who have courage are not devoid of fear, worry and angst – but they do not let these feelings control or define them. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.”
2. When leaders are courageous, they don’t dither or delay but act decisively. This is not because they know what the right call is but because they understand that a call has to be made. Despite the uncertainty, they take a stance and follow through on it no matter how unpopular it is. They then do not let pride stand in the way of overturning their decisions if evidence suggests that they should do so.
3. Like any human being, courageous leaders want to save their own skins, protect their interests and enjoy the good opinions of others. Yet they do not let these things deter them from self-sacrifice and even inflicting pain on their people if it is in the longer-term best interests of all.

In the workplace and in the Legitimate Leadership Model, courage means, inter alia, that:

• You do not avoid the issue. You confront the problem and develop a solution.
• You do not make excuses for your employee. You ensure that the employee understands her deliverables and accepts responsibility.
• You do not undermine your employee by taking over their work or implementing more controls. You clarify expectations and support your employee in the face of unreasonable demands.
• You give employees constructive and useful feedback to facilitate their growth.
• You do not use employees as scapegoats.
• You do not need yourself to be the star of the show. Courageous leaders let their employees shine!