Leadership Isn't For Cowards: How to Drive Performance by Challenging People and Confronting Problems

Chapter 35

Are You Willing?

This is the big question. This is what determines how you will answer Chapter 34’s question, “Is it worth the work?” It’s great that you want to. It’s great that you have hope and enthusiasm. What I really want to know is, what are you actually willing to do? Your courage is shown in your willingness. When you run out of enthusiasm and hope and wanting, willingness pulls you the rest of the way.

It’s time for you to consider your entire journey through this book and ask yourself what you are now willing to do to drive yourself and your followers. What bold step are you prepared to take toward developing courageous leadership? Do not allow yourself the luxury of hesitation. Now is the time to make a firm and unwavering commitment to act in an area of high gain. What problem cannot wait? What have you been pretending not to know that you now realize you must change? Where can you take responsibility? Where can you inspire your followers? What are you willing to do to make those things happen? (Remember that fear of negative consequences is the enemy of willingness. If fear is limiting your willingness, go back to the six-question exercise in Chapter 13 to help you work through it.)

So how can you decide what to do, and how do you set reasonable goals that you are willing to meet? The following exercise will help.

High-Gain Activity

Your high-gain activity is the one activity that, if you did it all the time, would have the most profitable and productive ...