In Disruptive Times Leadership Demands COURAGE

March 21, 2023

by John O. Burdett

The following leadership themes demand a level of comfort with being uncomfortable beyond anything previously asked of us.

Courage in times of war is, of course, putting one’s very life on the line for something you believe in deeply. The ultimate expression of courage. In the midst of today’s business turmoil, leadership is clearly not about life or death. It does demand courage, however. A different kind of courage. The recognition that mental strength, tenacity and perseverance are the currency of continued success.

The following leadership themes demand a level of comfort with being uncomfortable beyond anything previously asked of us:

For a leader, language isn’t important … it’s everything. In that it is emotionally laden, courage is an especially powerful term. It’s also a linguistic frame that when you change the context you change its meaning. Beyond what has already been described, courage in business ultimately draws on the leadership of self. The mental strength needed to embark on the road less travelled. The tenacity to fully live your own story. And, in a world where only those who can see what others cannot see can do what others say cannot be done … the perseverance to endure.


This article is an extract from “Courage: Mental Strength, Tenacity and Perseverance“, © Orxestra® Inc.

John O. Burdett is founder of Orxestra® Inc. He has extensive international experience as a senior executive. As a consultant he has worked in more than 40 countries for organisations that are household names. John has worked on organisation culture for some of the world's largest organisations. His ongoing partnership with TRANSEARCH International means that his thought leading intellectual property, in any one year, supports talent management in many hundreds of organisations around the world. Get in touch with John O. Burdett »

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