There are people who are afraid to become leaders, to take on the work of leadership.
There are also people who want to be leaders because they are afraid. They work to compensate for their fear by controlling every aspect of what they do. They believe in planning and anticipation, being ready for anything. For them, leadership is a way to make everything work out the way they want it to be.
They are trying to lead from their own fear.
It is very difficult to lead from a place of fear, which often makes people who try more fearful. Their efforts may focus on increasingly specific steps, exerting more effort to maintain control. Their fear pushes them to know as many details as they possibly can.
The leaders who inspire us do not lead out of their own fear, but help lead me out of mine.
There are leaders who give us examples to follow. They show us how to face our fear, looking it in the eye while learning to understand it. They teach us that leadership is not about subduing or disguising fear. Leadership is not about never being afraid.
They help deepen the way we lead by showing us the lessons fear has to teach us.
The leaders who inspire us guide us as we recognize that fighting fear only gives it more power. Our fear is not something that must be conquered or ignored. They help lead us out of fearfulness to appreciate the gifts we can receive from fear.
Leaders are not fearless. They are able to listen to fear and hear the story it is telling us.
How does your fear affect your leadership? How does your leadership affect your fear?
Who are you helping lead out of fear?
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