Courage determines whether a leader will put leadership skills or toolkits to effective use. It is courage that is absolutely fundamental to solving problems, innovating, pursuing opportunities and safeguarding the welfare of others
Choosing Courage sets out a road map for building the skill of courage and increasing the chances of having maximum impact in doing so.
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Stuart Scott was the first Black television presenter to anchor ESPN’s flagship sports program, SportsCenter. Remembered for his use of slang, clever catchphrases and references to Black culture and music, Scott is also credited for effectively changing the language America used to talk about sports.
But not everyone was a fan. In the early 2000s, he faced a backlash from certain parts of the media, the public and even senior executives at ESPN. Tone the style down, said one boss, or face the consequences. Scott’s response was creative, brilliant and gutsy. He chose to go on air and publicly congratulate his employers for supporting underrepresented aspects of American culture — communities that had not hitherto been championed on TV. This act saved his career while simultaneously advancing Black culture in the U.S.
A decade later, a medical student, Chris, took a decision that most likely saved a life. When a suicidal patient arrived at the emergency room, Chris pushed the intimidating supervising psychiatrist to order a simple diagnostic. The results revealed a vascular disease to be the root of the problem, and the patient was sent to surgery instead of the psych ward.
Elsewhere, marketing executive Jackie faced a dilemma. Her organization’s president was opposed to an ambitious sales campaign that she wanted to launch. If it works, he told her, you can keep your job. If not, she would need to look elsewhere. Jackie went ahead with the campaign, which turned out to be the most successful in her organization’s history. She kept her job, though she received little in terms of recognition or thanks.
[This article has been reproduced with permission from University Of Virginia's Darden School Of Business. This piece originally appeared on Darden Ideas to Action.]