Is it possible to be a fearless leader? Shouldn’t the real objective be “know your fear and learn how to deal with it“?

“Fearless leadership is not about leading without fear. It’s about making a bold stand in the face of fear. As Nelson Mandela said, ‘the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear.’ We all have fears. Fear is a survival instinct that keeps us alert to ‘danger’ and so it serves a useful purpose. The challenge for leaders and their teams is that fear can block vision and inhibit action – fear keeps people ‘stuck’. Knowing our fear and learning how to deal with it is the essence of fearless leadership. Fearless leaders have the courage to admit to their own fears and the emotional intelligence to recognise fear in people around them. Fearless leaders consciously take steps to ‘lessen’ fear in our workplaces and in our communities, not add to it. Fearless leaders move beyond fear and inspire others do likewise. We don’t talk much about fear in the workplace – especially as leaders. I feel it’s time we bring fear out into the open so we can tackle it together – fearlessly.

From the company point of view, the stronger the leader, the better the situation. Seen from the team’s point of view, the stronger the leader, the stronger the pressure...

“Fundamentally, I see two kinds of leaders – ‘fear-full leaders’ and ‘fear-less leaders’. Fearful leaders focus on problems and lead by fear. They are driven by disempowering beliefs about themselves and others and create fear-driven organisations. They may deliver results in the short-term but they do not generate trust for the long term. Fearless leaders focus on possibilities and lead by inspiration. They consciously cultivate empowering beliefs about themselves and others and create an enabling space for collective potential to thrive. They build trust within their teams and businesses and create long-term value for the communities and clients they serve. Both kinds of leaders are ‘human’ – they reflect different aspects of human mindsets and behaviours. Only fearless leaders are truly ‘strong leaders’. They have what it takes to influence change in a positive and constructive manner and bring out the best in people – consistently.

“Playing big“… is this still what is needed? Could a new motto be “play ambitious, but reasonable“? In other words, do leaders always have to reach for the sky?

“True leaders always ‘play big’. They not only reach for the sky, they reach for the stars… and at the same time, keep their feet on the ground. Playing big is about cultivating bold vision and taking bold action while at the same time, managing the risks involved. It’s a fine balancing act. Ultimately, leadership is always about stretching the boundaries of what is ‘reasonable’. We expect leaders to challenge the status quo and lead the way forward – beyond the safe and familiar borders we already know. We look to leaders to ‘go first’! True leaders know that playing big for business is also about playing big for the teams and organisations they lead as well as the communities in which we live.“

paperJam Business Club

Fearless leadership: believing in self and others.

Fear in the workplace makes people feel and act “small“. It drains energy and profitability from your business. Be fearless and re-invent yourself as a leader. Learn how to break the cycle of fear to “play big“ for yourself, your people and your clients.

Workshop: 24 September from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Registration: www.club.paperjam.lu

Speaker: Yvonne O’Reilly (Avanteam)