SCRIPTURE: “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:6 KJV)
QUOTE: Successful leaders have the courage to take action while others hesitate” – John Maxwell
NOTE:
Courage is “the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.” According to Forbes, courage is “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear.” Courage is a non-negotiable quality you must possess as a Leader. This is because a deep and abiding sense of courage is a quality that separates good leaders from great ones. Some characteristics that define courageous leadership are resilience, commitment to purpose, and authenticity.
In your Leadership journey there will be moments where you are required to make tough decisions. There will be opportunities that will require you to make bold moves. Courageous leaders are people who are able to push through these uncomfortable situations. They are willing to make difficult decisions against all odds and do not back down when things get too hard.
ILLUSTRATION:
Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh was a Nigerian Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Physician who became infected with the deadly Ebola virus while treating the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer. She died on August 19, 2014, as ‘the Ebola Heroine” thereby saving millions of Nigerians from contracting the epidemic. Dr Stella’s courage to do the right thing saved the entire nation of Nigeria from a healthcare catastrophe and forever etched her name in the annals of history as an embodiment of selflessness and sacrifice. She earned heroine status when she identified and courageously contained the index case of Ebola in Nigeria, effectively saving millions of people from contracting the disease. Her actions enabled the Nigerian healthcare authorities to get a quick grip on the disease and effectively declared Nigeria Ebola-free within 93 days. Without Dr. Adadevoh’s courageous intervention to contain the index case of Ebola amidst the pressure from the patient and some others persons, one can only wonder what could have been in 2014. Leaders must be courageous.
REFLECTION:
- Do you consider yourself a courageous Leader?
- When uncertainty and uncomfortable scenario arises, are you someone who rises up to the occasion and make tough decisions?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: 2 Chronicles 34 – 36, Psalm 72