It's Time for Courage

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the RAB's Rising Through the Ranks leadership event in Nashville. The program is led by Kim Johnson, VP of professional development, and Erica Farber, RAB's immediate past president/CEO. Watching the events unfold, the stories told and the vulnerability of the 26 women who participated, the word that came to mind was COURAGE.

In a world seemingly ripe with its share of troubles, I can't think of a better time for us to be courageous. In a Harvard Business Review article, Ranjay Gulati, professor of business administration at Harvard, identifies five strategies to drive bold action – for leaders and individuals. I've used his bullet points and added my own thoughts:

Create a positive narrative – Our self-talk, positive or negative, determines our view of ourselves and the world. If you think you can't, you can't.

Cultivate confidence – Confidence is knowing you are capable of doing something. The best way to cultivate confidence is to continue to learn.

Take small steps – As James Clear shares in his book Atomic Habits, don't shoot for the moon every time; it's the small, consistent growth and changes that will, over time, make a big difference.

Find connection – This was one of the most extraordinary things to witness at Rising Through the Ranks – the connections made, the affinity built and the support offered for people who are going through exactly what you're going through.

Stay calm – My wife, who studies psychology, would call this "emotional regulation." Don't panic. Self-care, including sleep, nutrition, exercise, hydration and meditation and/or prayer, can go a long way in helping you stay calm and emotionally regulated despite the chaos around you.

The other word that came to mind as I witnessed the Rising Through the Ranks event was vulnerability. Both Kim and Erica created a safe space for women to be vulnerable, open up to each other and recognize that, not only do we all have fears, doubts and past mistakes, we're all in this together.

Obviously, you might not have had the opportunity to participate in Rising Through the Ranks. By employing these five strategies to develop your courage, you can become the leader on your team who invites vulnerability, learning, and growth.

Happy Friday!

Think Big, Make Big Things Happen!

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development. You can reach him at Jeff.Schmidt@rab.com. You can all so connect with him on X and LinkedIn.