In my last post, I shared with you the kind of courageous mindset successful leaders have. I shared the benefits of having a ‘growth mindset’ as opposed to a ‘fixed mindset’ and how this will serve you in developing a courageous mindset.
One stellar example for showing a courageous mindset is author, screenwriter, and producer, JK Rowling. Her story of perseverance and fearlessness in the face of poverty, divorce, raising a child as a single parent, and losing her mother did not stop her from writing the first Harry Potter novel. Even after publishing several books, Rowling continues to be challenged by bad press and other business issues which she faces head on without fear.
To have a courageous mindset, it is important to establish your priorities and re-confirm your objectives and goals. Try not to think of the end result and instead, focus on your goals and the process. Develop identity-based habits. Identity-based habits are habits that reflect who you are. It is founded on your self-belief so if you do not have any confidence as a leader, your actions will show this weakness. You have to believe that you can achieve great things. You can do this by:
1. Make a decision on the kind of leader you want to be.
2. Find a source of inspiration.
3. Celebrate small wins.
As implied by these 3 steps, a courageous mindset cannot be developed instantly. Plus, this kind of mindset is constantly evolving because as a leader, you should not settle for small wins or a big single win. The ultimate aspiration is sustainable and long-term leadership.
Change will take time.
Trust yourself.
Believe in what you can do; in what you know but strive to keep improving. Accept that you will face adversity. Once it comes, take it slowly and avoid making rushed decisions. If necessary, talk to someone whose opinions you trust and respect. Anything you decide to do, stay grounded by balancing your beliefs and company policies.
Learn to Adapt to This VUCA Environment we all live in
VUCA or volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment is a military term that first came out in the early 1990s after the Cold War ended. All leaders have to deal with situations that are multipolar which make it difficult to predict outcomes. VUCA has led to mindsets that have collapsed under pressure. Fortunately, in spite of what experts are saying to scare you about today’s business environment, VUCA is not an impossible situation. There are solutions.
1) Step out of your comfort zone. Try to see situations from different perspectives. Use your team to come up with ideas and suggestions that would help you overcome adversity.
2) Encourage feedback from your staff and ask open-ended questions for high-quality analytics.
3) Stay transparent so there is no room for doubt among your team members
4) Stick to company policies
5) Be consistent with your actions and words
6) Practice flexibility in your strategies so you can easily adapt to abrupt changes
In summary, a courageous mindset is a willingness to adapt to changes. It is resilience against what may seem like an unstoppable force with the use of creativity, intelligence, and courage. It allows us to stop playing safe so we can enjoy the rewards of true leadership and enduring success.
If you would like to some help in developing further your courageous mindset, contact me and arrange a free initial call to see how I might help you.
