The Courageous Leader

Foreword xi
Introduction xiii
Courage Is the Way
The Three Components of Courage: Diversity, Pain, and Choice
The Intention of the Author and This Book
1 The Business Case for Courage 1
The Fear of Discomfort and Pain
Pain Thresholds
Common Reactions to Tough Times
Uncommon Choices
The Big Temptation
Honoring the Courageous Leader in You
Assessing the Risks
2 The Courage to Get Unstuck 27
When Life Kicks You out of the Workplace
Stuck in a Paradigm
Pain During the Transition
Making Sense of Our Pain
3 The Courage to Take a Stand 45
So, What Exactly Are Values?
Actual and Aspirational Values
Why Values Matter in Leadership
Clarity on Values
Activating Our Values
4 The Courage to Be Humble 63
Arrogance in the Workplace
Intentions, Behaviors, and Arrogance
Arrogance Is the Birthplace of the Humbling Experience
Why Humility Matters
Minimize Self and Maximize Our Bigger Purpose
5 The Courage to Be Confident 83
Those People Complex
Confidence Comes from Self-Trust
Your Vote Counts, and You Get to Vote for You!
Confidence in the Workplace
Strategies and Tools for Building Confidence
6 The Courage to Delegate 105
Delegation Takes Too Much Time
I Feel Guilty Giving My Team More Work
I Love Doing It All--or at Least Being the Superstar
I Am Afraid My People Won't Do It as Well as I Would
My Customer Wants Only Me
I Don't Have People to Delegate to
7 The Courage to Give and Receive Feedback 123
The Big Temptation and Courageous Feedback
The Feedback Trifecta--Giving Feedback
The Feedback Trifecta--Receiving Feedback
8 The Courage to Be in the Middle (and Not Be in the Middle) 147
Much Th at Seems Personal Is Not Personal at All
Be a Bottom When You Should
Middle Between Two Ends
Middle Space and Courage
9 Grow, Recover, Repeat 169
Recovery in the Workplace
Indications We Need Recovery
10 Big Dreams, Big Moves 181
Big Dreams
Big Moves
Expect Success
Plan for the Worst
Build Your Board of Directors
Recalibrating
Making Your Big Move
Acknowledgments 197
Epilogue 199
About the Author 201
Index 203