At the start of the Be Braver practitioner programme, we ask our cohort to think about the opposite of choosing to be braver.
What the absence of courage looks like, the opposite of what it feels like. What they know of its enemies.
No progress, the same situations reappearing.
Feelings of insignificance, being demoralised, disappointed. Weakness.
Despondent. Silence. Isolation. Regret. Frustration.
A mixture of feelings, thoughts and behaviours.
We also ask our cohorts to think about where professionally they need courage and bravery;
Offering advice, insight and assurance to those with power and influence over my career.
Challenging senior individuals
Speaking truth to power
Speaking up when something is wrong
Giving and receiving difficult feedback
Having tough conversations with difficult leaders
Standing by my decision
Taking control when things don’t go to plan
When we look to name and understand the emotion attached to these examples- we find vulnerability.
The emotion of choice we experience during times of uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. The fear of not belonging, being ostracised, of not being enough, not fitting in. Humiliation. Shame.
Vulnerability doesn’t discriminate on the basis of seniority or by hierarchy. If there is risk and uncertainty to be found, there will be the vulnerability that comes with emotional exposure. No matter who or where you sit.
What do we do?
When we want to avoid discomfort? Avoid. Procrastinate. Hide. Stay silent. Do the same. Do nothing. People please.
All the behaviours we know our organisations don't want, we don’t want from our teams, we don’t want to model to others.
Yet there is.
The behavioural outcome of not choosing courage. Where avoiding personal development becomes the enemy of business development. Where the emotional discomfort we don’t know how to handle hijacks our growth and hinders our futures.
Finally we ask our cohorts, what does being brave and courageous look and feel?
Being able to speak without fear judgement
Speaking up
Being open and honest
Standing behind my values
Telling the truth
Being in control
Facing my fears
Self belief, self-assured
When we create connections to the information available to us. When we create the space to explore with curiosity and compassion the feelings and responses of not only ourselves, but others too. We find what it is we need. To choose courage. To Be Braver.
We find that when we have the clarity to make value- aligned decisions, the confidence to trust our knowledge and experience, the connection to the sources of our strength and resilience.
We understand that in assessing the personal risk to the self, we often ignore the risks we do to our sense of self in not choosing courage. We understand that standing behind our values offers us the self-belief to know that choosing courage is the only decision that will ever move us forward.
That no matter what the outcome, you will be stronger, bolder and further forward than you would ever be if you didn’t choose to Be Braver.