Courage is a "professional asset"
RECOGNIZE COURAGEOUS BEHAVIOR

When’s the last time you noticed an act of courage? On September 11? No question about it. But what about in your organization? Remember that courage can also be demonstrated in smaller, quieter ways. At work, for example, has someone spoken up at a meeting, agreed to head a project that she felt passionate about but that had little financial support, advocated an unpopular idea or communicated honestly about an upcoming change? Has someone maintained a positive, supportive manner despite uncertainty in the organization or in the broader economy? Or perhaps some has shown courage by moving beyond previous limitations to develop new levels of skill or competence?

These smaller acts of courage, and the initiative that fuels action, help shape an organization’s culture and its ultimate success. For instance, challenging an assumption made at a meeting can rock the politics of many groups, and yet, uncovering an assumption always leads to clarified understanding, which results in a more a fine-tuned focus on the desired outcomes.

Likewise, promoting an idea that you feel is vital for the business and its employees can seem like white noise or a distraction to some. The courage to maintain your vigilance in promoting it can be seen as courageous, and when the idea falls on ears ready to listen, everyone can benefit. In the same light, taking the initiative to step up and out of your (often self-imposed) skill-boundaries requires courage and yields positive results for you and your group or organization.

Tip: Where would you like to step "up and out" of your limitations? What would you like to contribute, or what skill would you like to refine to a higher degree of mastery? When you’re not committing acts of courage and initiative of your own, look for and recognize others’ efforts to do the same. Their work can inspire yours, and you might be able to collaborate, becoming an informal team known for its breakthrough initiative and forceful courage!

Your recognition can be as simple as an e-mailed note, as public as a staff-meeting thanks, or as "teachable" as an article in the company newsletter. The point is: Take the intiative to recognize courage!

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