Leading with Courage: Confronting Fear as a Leader

Written by Jackie Connaughton – Business Health InstituteWhen facing fear, it’s natural to prioritize protecting ourselves first. However, as a leader, our role often involves protecting others as well. As such, it’s important to strike a balance between self-protection and protecting those we lead.

Effective leadership requires us to understand our fears and be able to manage them in a way that allows us to make decisions that are in the best interests of our team. When we understand our fears, we can use them proactively to motivate ourselves and our team towards positive action. Fear can be a powerful driver of change, and if we can harness it in a positive way, it can help us achieve our goals.

However, fear can also manifest in negative ways, such as rigidity, chaos, or mental health issues. As a leader, it’s important to recognise these negative manifestations of fear and take steps to address them. This might involve seeking support from a mental health professional or taking steps to create a more supportive work environment.

Just like learning to ride a bike, regulating our own emotions and managing our fears is a skill that can be developed with practice. As leaders, it’s important to take the time to understand our own fears and develop strategies for managing them in a way that supports our own well-being and the well-being of those we lead. By doing so, we can create a more positive and productive work environment that allows our teams to thrive.

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