Leading with Courage: The Quiet Power of Encouragement
Image by: Fable Photography
Courage is often mistaken for boldness - for being loud, stepping in first, or appearing fearless. But what if courage, true courage in leadership, is quieter than that? What if it begins not in certainty, but in vulnerability? Not in the mind, but in the heart?
The word courage comes from the Latin cor, meaning heart. To lead with courage is to lead from the heart - from connection, care, and presence. And in doing so, we begin to notice the everyday invitations to en-courage - to offer encouragement in ways that are gentle, grounded, and deeply powerful.
Brene Brown author of many book including “Dare to Lead” and “Atlas of the Heart”, speaks of courage being about showing up, staying with, and listening - especially when it’s not easy. I discussed this with Lucy Kidd and Jatin Patel in our Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ podcast:
“I think courage and encourage, go together. For courage to happen we are encouraged by each other, and the mindset and behaviours of Curiosity, Care and Courage that underpin Finding your Collaborative Edge.”
Mid-Year Review
July marks the mid-point of the year, a moment of fullness, light, and gentle review. It is important to remember and celebrate our own courage and the power of encouraging - both ourselves and others - not with pressure, but with presence.
So let us ask:
What does it mean to be encouraging in your leadership?
What does it mean to create space for courage in others, not by leading from the front, but by walking alongside?
The Hidden Practice of Encouragement
To encourage someone is not to fix them. It’s not to push, persuade, or even inspire in the traditional sense. It is to offer your presence, your belief, and your care. It is to say: I see your courage, even when you can’t. I believe in your next step, even when it feels uncertain.
Encouragement is relational courage in motion. It often looks like deep listening. Like a pause before replying. Like noticing someone’s discomfort, and not rushing to fill the silence. It’s the quiet “I’ve got you” that a leader offers, not through a pep talk, but by showing up again and again with consistency, warmth, and trust.
As Nancy Kline, author of Time to Think, writes:
“The quality of everything we do depends on the quality of the thinking we do first. And the quality of that thinking depends on the quality of our listening.”
In this sense, encouragement is not just about words; it’s about how we listen. How we hold space for someone to think, to stretch, to speak into their own potential.
Wholehearted Leadership as Courage in Motion
This echoes what we explored in May’s blog on Wholehearted Leadership - that leadership is not about performance, but presence. That it calls for us to bring body, mind, heart and spirit into our work - not perfectly, but openly.
To lead wholeheartedly is to lean in with curiosity, not control.
To invite others to bring their full selves, not just their polished edges.
It is a kind of courage that grows slowly, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.
In June’s reflection on energy and awareness, we explored what happens when we are not wholehearted - when our energy is stretched when our presence thins. Often in those moments, encouragement can be the bridge. It brings us back to ourselves and helps others do the same.
A July Reflection
As we move into high summer - a season of ripening - it’s a good time to ask:
Where is courage being asked of you in your leadership, not in action but in presence?
Who might need your encouragement right now - not your answers, but your belief?
How might you practise leading from the heart, even in small, steady ways?
In a world that often rewards speed and certainty, let your encouragement be a quiet act of trust.
Let it ripple.
Let it grow.
Let it be your way of walking with, not ahead.
