I read this week, “Boldness builds leadership. Rashness destroys it.”

That caught my attention because one of our values is Boldness. We define it as Courageous; Willing, Intentional, Fierce.

It’s a fun value to have, yet there is great tension here. What is bold vs. what is careless or rash? The significant part about having bold as a value is also checking the other side of the coin: safety (and sometimes fear). Safe or fear-based leadership will allow you to maintain what you have, but there isn’t any rallying cry or big visions to get behind. It’s necessary at times but not viable long term. If you ain't growing, your dying.

Boldness builds up leadership.

How can you be bold?

Be Courageous:

It takes courage to have a big vision, announce it out loud to your team and then focus on accomplishing it over a long period of time. Without a vision, your company wanders. Where are you going? Is it bold?

Be Willing:

To accomplish your big vision, you need to be willing to delegate authority to those you lead. If you want to go fast, go alone if you want to go far, go together. You and your team should share in the fulfillment of your vision. How willing are you to fully delegate authority?

Be Intentional:

Rashness destroys leadership. High emotion, ill-prepared, idea, and directional whiplash all reduce your effectiveness as a leader. No, emotion is not bad, but if your company's direction and leadership style are based upon your mood or the last conversation you had with a client, you are lacking intentionality. How intentional are you?

Be Fierce:

Fierce is competitive, confrontational, scrappy, and unrelenting. That means high accountability and persistence. It accepts risk and does not bow to fear or anxiety. As Frank Herbert’s Dune eloquently puts it, “Fear is the mind-killer.”

“Dare great things with great faith to accomplish great good.”

Where can you be more bold?

Briner, The Leadership Lessons of Jesus, B &H Publishing Group, 1997, pgs 95-79