Courageous Leaders Embrace Failure
The Key To Greatness Is Understanding The Journey
When you are faced with anything in life that you will never know everything about and is a constant learning process, the masses fall. It’s why the gyms are empty by March, TikTok is popular, and why bowling is considered a sport.
We live in an era of comfort and often, our natural default is to seek pleasure at all times. But great leaders understand that real leadership is difficult and you have to be willing to face hardships to do it right.
Like most of society, most fall away from actual leadership and while they may consider themselves leaders, they are nothing but the latest frauds in a world that has become accustomed to them.
The Time For Courage Is Now
A key characteristic in great leaders is that they are drawn to the challenge of never knowing it all. Courageous leaders understand that leadership is about the journey and not the end because leading never ends.
Show me a great leader in law enforcement and I’ll show you someone that leads their family, church or group outside of the job. They are imperfect beings always striving to do better.
Leadership can never be defined or contained.
Great leadership is a force that can change the world and it begins with the idea that you always have something to learn and you will make mistakes.
Self Assessment
Each of us look in the mirror and we see ourselves a few pounds lighter than we actually are and one of the most challenging aspects of what I do is helping leaders understand their imperfections and to encourage them to lean into those flaws.
It’s the only way we can grow and continue the journey of leadership.
I have found that the majority of great leaders embrace the idea that they will never come close to leading perfectly and they constantly remain in a learning environment, striving to be as good as they can.
Magnus Carlsen has the highest chess rating (Elo) in history but he still practices his craft several hours a day.
Tony Gwynn has the highest career batting average of modern day baseball, hitting .338. Despite being the best, Gwynn was known as the hardest worker in the game, spending multiple hours a day on his craft.
Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time and despite being the #1 golfer for 13 years straight, he would spend up to 8 hours a day working on the game, including the use of multiple coaches.
Do you see the pattern here?
If the greatest among us continue work at a level that few could imagine, that is what must be done to be great…in sport, life, and leadership.
If you are drawn to the challenge of hard, then you are a great leader in the making. You have everything you need to impact lives beyond your comprehension.
I say that with confidence based on the greatest leaders of our time.
Winston Churchill was an oil painter
Theodore Roosevelt practiced Jiu Jitsu
Ben Franklin played chess
Nelson Mandela was a boxer
What are you?
Are you someone that gravitates to easy or are you someone that embraces challenges? Do you barge ahead despite the obstacles but quickly stop when it gets tough?
Regardless of your answer, you can choose courage but it comes with a cost. If you are like me, that choice must be intentional. I do not naturally want to do difficult things but I have processes in my life that helps me choose courage.
One of those processes involves an annual commitment to Do Hard Things. Jiu Jitsu, guitar, golf, and read the Old Testament, are just a few of those challenges I placed on myself. I’m pretty bad at all of them but just like leadership, the point is not to perfect them…the journey is what counts.
Your journey is now!
Dr. Travis Yates retired as a commander with a large municipal police department after 30 years of service. He is the author of “The Courageous Police Leader: A Survival Guide for Combating Cowards, Chaos & Lies.” His risk management and leadership seminars have been taught to thousands of professionals across the world. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy with a Doctorate Degree in Strategic Leadership and the CEO of the Courageous Police Leadership Alliance.
Do Hard Things