Leading Through Fear

You may have heard that a leader can never show fear.  I'm not quite sure I agree with that.  Fear is part of life and living.  As a leader, your job is to lead, and as a leader, you have to send signals of strength even when you're feeling somewhat weak.  Leaders Create Capacity in the people that they lead.  We've all heard it before.  If the boss worries, then you know everyone else worries.

Think of Moses.  He exemplifies an essential quality of leadership.  Shortly after bringing the Israelites across the Red Sea, Moses led them into a battle where they were badly outnumbered.  Joshua, charismatic warrior, did his best to lead the ground troops, but Moses had to lift everyone's spirit because the Israelites, his people, were scared.  The fight looked impossible.  Moreover, Moses was an old man.  What could he really do?

But Moses had an idea.  He stood atop a nearby mountain so his soldiers could see him and he held his hands in the air.  That's it.  But that, amazingly, was enough.  The sight of him on the mountain, hands outstretched, kept his soldiers going.  Every time he lowered his hands, the tide of the battle started turning the other way.  So two aides stood by his side propping his arms in the air when weariness enveloped him.  But Moses never dropped his arms, and that unwavering show of support won the battle.

That is what a leader needs to do.  Of course, leaders are human.  We're all human.  We have goals, and aspirations, and needs, and fears.  But the truth is, in my four decades as an entrepreneur and business owner, working in every industry from banking to dancing, here's what I've learned…  When you're frightened, let someone know.  Let God know.  Let your family know.  Let your associates know.

When you're frightened, share that with someone you trust.  Reach out to a carefully selected, deeply regarded, person or persons.  Know who those few are so you can trust them and confide in them during moments of crisis.  That is leadership too, to know when we need assistance and to reach out and ask for it.  Let no fear ever cause us to stop.  Let no fear paralyze us as leaders.

Have a great week.