Adaptive Leadership: The Heifetz Collection (3 Items)

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CHAPTER 20

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Engage Courageously

A

S A YOUNG POLITICIAN, Marty found it fairly difficult to get

out of the house each day and ring that first doorbell. He knew

rejection awaited him, if not at the first doorbell of the day, then at the

next. His distaste for rejection made it tough for him to summon up the

courage needed to campaign. There were days when he never made it

out of the house.

At least five major constraints can hold you back from summoning

courage for the work of leadership:

• Loyalties to people who may not believe you are doing the right

thing

• Fear of incompetence

• Uncertainty about taking the right path

• Fear of loss

• Not having the stomach for the hard parts of the journey

We examine each of these constraints in turn below and offer ideas ...