Today's Leadership Insight - Have Courage and Take Risks

August 26, 2009

Part Three of Rudy Giuliani's Six Leadership Principles Explained...

#3 of 6: Must Have Courage and Take Risks

Great accomplishments are the results of risks taken. And tied to that 100% is the courage to take a risk in the first place.

There's two ways to live life:

1) Safely - You can nestle yourself into a comfort zone where you become a slave to the daily routine and allow the circumstances of life to dictate your course

2) On the Edge - You can break free of pre-programmed thought that tells you to live a certain way, thus allowing yourself to take risks, earn life experience, and chart your own course by dictating the circumstances

Leaders choose the latter. There is nothing to be gained in a safety zone except more of the same. By expanding your comfort zone, the results that once seemed unattainable become more tangible and realistic.

Fear is not something to run from. If you live a life without fear, you haven't lived! Life itself is a risky venture. But missing out on great experiences because you're afraid to try something new is personal highway robbery.

If I would've been afraid to shoot rounds of golf in the 100's, maybe I would've never picked up my first club and given the sport a try. And I would've been robbing myself of something I enjoy doing as much as I can, and cost myself to the opportunity to get better at something by practice and preparation.

As a leader in your business today, have the courage to take a risk. More importantly, teach your followers to do the same. The rewards that follow will be much more satisfying than those you receive when you expect them to come naturally.

Not every risk you take is going to pan out the way you plan. But each risk will provide you with knowledge and experience, thus giving you the ability to charge forward the next day, a little wiser, and a little more willing to not suffer defeat.

"You cannot achieve success if you fear failure."