NH Business Review Column: Embracing Courage in the Workplace

While we all admire courage in theory, enthusiasm may diminish when we actually need to apply it at work. In his Harvard Business Review article “Cultivating Everyday Courage,” James Detert acknowledges that people who fight for workplace change may be ostracized or even lose their jobs. 

But most acts of courage, Detert observes, “come from respected insiders at all levels who take action—be it campaigning for a risky strategic move, pushing to change an unfair policy, or speaking out against unethical behavior—because they believe it’s the right thing to do.” When people manage the process well, he adds, they often see their work status and reputation rise. 

In her book “Dare to Lead,” Brené Brown, a leading voice for our time, describes the deep connection between courage and vulnerability. “Daring leaders who live their values are never silent about hard things,” she writes. “We need braver leaders and more courageous cultures.”

Failure to apply courage can result in avoidance of important decisions and actions. This can have serious consequences, including undermining staff morale, diminishing the business bottom line, and devaluing your reputation as a leader.

How are you doing when it comes to applying courage at work? Are there things you should be doing that you are avoiding instead? What steps could you take to up your leadership courage?

You can read the full column at https://www.nhbr.com/embracing-courage-in-the-workplace/