Courageous Leadership Minnesota Council for Quality January 9th,2007 Michael LaBrosse, M..cht Minnesota Council for Quality January 9th,2007 Michael LaBrosse, M..cht

Listen up!  There are 5 frogs sitting on a log…  4 decide to jump off…  How many are left?  There are 5 frogs sitting on a log…  4 decide to jump off…  How many are left?

What do you think?  Courage is taking action in the face of one’s fear. Agree Disagree  Courage is taking action in the face of one’s fear. Agree Disagree

The Case for Courageous Leadership  37 of Fortune 100 companies publicly identify courage as critical to sustainable success.  37 of Fortune 100 companies publicly identify courage as critical to sustainable success.

Leadership vs. Management  Every act of leadership is an act of courage. That is what distinguishes leadership from management.

Leadership vs. Management Management Lens

Leadership vs. Management Leadership lenses Wide Angle Telephoto Up Close Leadership lenses Wide Angle Telephoto Up Close

The most challenging (and unused) leadership lens MRI = Must Reflect Internally

Where is everybody?

Walking the Talk  Values statements, corporate policies and ethical guidelines are decisions waiting for virtuous action

What is courage?  Before we can examine virtue in our organization, we need to examine our own personal understanding of courage, humility, ethics, integrity, compassion. Why? We don’t see things as they are… …we see things as we are. Talmudic proverb  Before we can examine virtue in our organization, we need to examine our own personal understanding of courage, humility, ethics, integrity, compassion. Why? We don’t see things as they are… …we see things as we are. Talmudic proverb

What is courage?  Courage is the supreme virtue... for it is the guarantor of all other virtues. Mahatma Ghandi  Courage is the supreme virtue... for it is the guarantor of all other virtues. Mahatma Ghandi

What is courage? Working definition: Courage is taking action in the face of ones fear. Let’s test it out. Working definition: Courage is taking action in the face of ones fear. Let’s test it out.

What is courage?

Finding #1 Fear is not a factor in courageous action. Courage is not about fear…it is about the irrelevance of fear. Finding# 2 We do not decide, or choose to be courageous. Courage appears to be a non-cognitive, non rational dynamic. Finding #1 Fear is not a factor in courageous action. Courage is not about fear…it is about the irrelevance of fear. Finding# 2 We do not decide, or choose to be courageous. Courage appears to be a non-cognitive, non rational dynamic.

What is Courage?

What is courage?  Finding #3 We do not accept or acknowledge our behavior as courageous. Courageous action does not recognize itself.  Finding #4 We can (and do) act with courage in some situations and not others.  Finding #3 We do not accept or acknowledge our behavior as courageous. Courageous action does not recognize itself.  Finding #4 We can (and do) act with courage in some situations and not others.

What is courage?  Finding #5 Authentic acts of courage always meet a universal standard of being right, fair or principled. Courage is not only about our personal value system.  Finding #6 Courage is at once, personal and public. (The Courage Paradox) Courage is a universally available source of power that authorizes and propels our actions.  Finding #5 Authentic acts of courage always meet a universal standard of being right, fair or principled. Courage is not only about our personal value system.  Finding #6 Courage is at once, personal and public. (The Courage Paradox) Courage is a universally available source of power that authorizes and propels our actions.

What is courage?  Proposed definition based on research: Courage is any action we take when our heart is at risk… and our soul is at work.  Proposed definition based on research: Courage is any action we take when our heart is at risk… and our soul is at work.

What is courage?  This universally available source of power has been quantified by behavior experts such as Dr. David Hawkins, a well known psychiatrist and teacher.  His landmark book, Power vs Force, outlines the pivotal role courage plays in our capacity to achieve fulfillment in our personal or organizational life.  This universally available source of power has been quantified by behavior experts such as Dr. David Hawkins, a well known psychiatrist and teacher.  His landmark book, Power vs Force, outlines the pivotal role courage plays in our capacity to achieve fulfillment in our personal or organizational life.

How can I be a courageous leader?  I have everything I need.  Whenever I think the problem is `out there’…that thought is the problem.  Begin by challenging myself and everyone else, with questions like…  I have everything I need.  Whenever I think the problem is `out there’…that thought is the problem.  Begin by challenging myself and everyone else, with questions like…

How can I be a courageous leader?  What’s really going on here?  What would I do with a little more courage?  What would this organization do with a little more courage?  What’s really going on here?  What would I do with a little more courage?  What would this organization do with a little more courage?

How can I create a more virtuous organization?  Courage is contagious. All virtuous behavior, especially courage, will shine and guide others like a lighthouse. Remember the Iraqi women who were afraid to vote, then were encouraged by seeing other women taking the risk?  Courage is contagious. All virtuous behavior, especially courage, will shine and guide others like a lighthouse. Remember the Iraqi women who were afraid to vote, then were encouraged by seeing other women taking the risk?

How can I create a more virtuous organization?  Where do I find my courage?  Courage appears to reside inside the deepest truth of whatever reality we are avoiding.  Find people that will tell you the truth, ask for the truth and challenge all truths. Become a truth detector (of your own truth).  Where do I find my courage?  Courage appears to reside inside the deepest truth of whatever reality we are avoiding.  Find people that will tell you the truth, ask for the truth and challenge all truths. Become a truth detector (of your own truth).

How can I create a more virtuous organization?  Read and review articles and books on virtues such as courage.  Spend time listening to your body through yoga, prayerful meditation and long walks. Your body never lies.  Attend leadership development programs.  Learn the Seven Zones of Leadership !  Read and review articles and books on virtues such as courage.  Spend time listening to your body through yoga, prayerful meditation and long walks. Your body never lies.  Attend leadership development programs.  Learn the Seven Zones of Leadership !

How can I create a more virtuous organization?  Apply the Platinum Rule to every relationship in my life, especially the difficult ones: -Golden rule…do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. -Platinum rule…do unto others the way they would like to be done unto!  Exit card/Investment card. If I cannot act virtuously because I feel trapped…then that trap contains your deepest truth…and all the courage you’ll need to act.  Apply the Platinum Rule to every relationship in my life, especially the difficult ones: -Golden rule…do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. -Platinum rule…do unto others the way they would like to be done unto!  Exit card/Investment card. If I cannot act virtuously because I feel trapped…then that trap contains your deepest truth…and all the courage you’ll need to act.

Stuff to Read  Books:  Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle  Power vs. Force, Dr. David Hawkins  Practicing Radical Honesty, Dr. Brad Blanton  Good to Great, Jim Collins  Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman  Blink, Malcolm Gladwell  7 Zones of leadership, Bob Terry  Books:  Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle  Power vs. Force, Dr. David Hawkins  Practicing Radical Honesty, Dr. Brad Blanton  Good to Great, Jim Collins  Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman  Blink, Malcolm Gladwell  7 Zones of leadership, Bob Terry

How to find me  Michael LaBrosse, M.cht  Leadership Solutions, Inc    612/990/0181  Michael LaBrosse, M.cht  Leadership Solutions, Inc    612/990/0181