In his book, Choosing Courage, Jim Detert explains that courage isn’t a character trait that only a few possess; it’s a virtue developed through practice.
While psychological safety is the foundation for a functional work environment, there is still an onus on us to have the courage to speak up. Leaders can encourage this behaviour by listening without judgement, allocating time to hear what their people have to say and having some mechanism in place to take action based on what people share. While the organisation and leadership have a major role to play in setting the stage, it ultimately comes down to us as individuals. Will we stand up and have courage? Will we speak up when it matters most?
We welcome friend of the Innovation Show and one of our very early guests, author of Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work, Jim Detert