Preparation Is How Leaders Demonstrate Competence and Earn Respect
January 28, 2026
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Leaders come with different personalities and experience levels, but there’s one skill that separates good leaders from those who leave lasting impacts: courage. It’s not about job titles or corner offices. It’s about the willingness to make bold decisions, face challenges head-on, and inspire others to rise alongside you.
As William Wallace famously said in Braveheart, “People don’t follow titles; they follow courage.”
C.S. Lewis backed him up when he said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.” Lewis got it right because each and every virtue a leader needs to possess will meet its testing point at some time.
In other words, a courageous leader is precisely the kind of leader required in today’s hyper-changing marketplace.
Leadership has always demanded bravery, but today, in our fast-changing world filled with uncertainty, courage is even more critical. Recent data underscores this need: according to a Gallup poll, only 22% of employees strongly agree that their leaders show clear direction and courage in times of disruption. This leadership gap means courageous leaders are more valuable than ever.
In coaching and teaching leaders from all different backgrounds and industries, two significant outcomes happen when leaders are courageous.
If you care about either of those two things, you better keep reading.
Courage is defined as the ability to take action in the face of fear, uncertainty, or potential loss.
See, real courage isn’t about eliminating fear or pretending it doesn’t exist. Instead, it’s about acknowledging uncertainty or fear and choosing to move forward anyway. Every decision made with courage is a step taken despite potential setbacks or criticism. Leaders who consistently act courageously build trust and respect, creating an environment that others want to follow.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the decision to move forward despite it.
This choice to act in the presence of fear is exactly what inspires trust and respect from others.
One of the most powerful aspects of courageous leadership is its contagious nature. Courage doesn’t just affect the person demonstrating it; it naturally encourages everyone around them. When leaders make courageous choices, they empower others by showing what’s possible, inspiring them to face their own fears. Borrowing courage from leaders is common, as it often helps people step outside their comfort zones to tackle new challenges.
When you lead courageously, you encourage others simultaneously.
Think about a moment when someone else’s courage inspired you to take a risk or try something new. That leader’s bravery became your bravery. By consistently modeling courageous behavior, you foster a culture of courage within your team and organization, enabling people to embrace challenges and thrive, even in uncertainty.
Today, courageous leadership isn’t optional; it’s essential. It shapes not only your leadership journey but also profoundly impacts those around you. Remember, courage might start with one brave step, but it never stops there. Your courage today can fuel someone else’s courage tomorrow—and that’s the true mark of leadership.
Will you act with courage today and inspire someone else to step forward?
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About the Author: John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft and The Sales Infrastructure. He was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. John is also the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success. You can follow him on Instagram @johngeades.
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