Skip to main content

Alexis Jane

writer
Dr Gene Early the writer of Five Deadliest Sins of Leadership

Share this article

Transforming Good to Great:
You’ll Need Courage

LAST UPDATED IN MARCH 2023

I recently came across an insightful article by Jo Miller titled, ‘8 Types of Courage for Aspiring Leaders’.It got me thinking about the journey of transformation from a high-performing employee into a leader. This journey requires strength, resilience, and - most importantly - courage.

Jennifer Mclanahan-Flint once said,

“The truth is that courage resides within you;
you must simply decide to embrace it.”

So what are the eight things that will require courage for you to grow into a leader?

The 8 Types of Courage for Aspiring Leaders

  1. Be authentic
  2. Align career with purpose
  3. Take risks
  4. Seek out feedback
  5. Tolerate temporary discomfort
  6. Let others shine
  7. Influence upward and
  8. Persistence

What If Your Courageous Efforts Seem to Go Nowhere?

Even when you have:

  • been bold,
  • taken risks,
  • influenced upward to get the assignment you want,
  • empowered others to take action,
  • endured temporary discomfort, and then…
  • Nothing;

Your big proposal falls apart at the eleventh hour. You work your butt off and somebody else gets the promotion. Thirty cold-calls lead to no new customers. All that courageous effort seems to go nowhere.

Persistence. Point Eight is our key. You must not give up. Keep going, keep trying and you will achieve your goals.

The Key is Persistence

Persistence is always worth it, according to Alexandra Franzen, who says, “You might take courageous action and get no visible result. You might pour in your heart and soul, you strain, you fight, and yet…”

Keep on trying even when you’re uncertain of the outcome, because when you try your best, according to Franzen, “…you will never ‘fail’.” Simply by trying — especially when nobody else is willing or able to act — you become the inspiration.

As someone who has helped individuals and organisations alike reach their full potential through effective coaching, leadership development, and communication, I know that courage is an essential ingredient for success.

So let your courage shine, and take that first step towards transforming from good to great.

Dr Gene Early writer of five deadliest sin

Alexis Jane | Writer

Alexis Jane is a magician at leveraging ‘deep inner work’ to activate ‘inner magic’ and empowering those she works with towards their aspirations. A new identity emerges, as limiting beliefs evaporate, transforming into the next level version of self.

Share this article

Back to Articles & aphorisms