Be fearless.

Being fearless as a leader means having the courage to take risks and make decisions that could have a profound impact. That’s the job. Leadership is a character quality; it's not about position or having a team. Instead, leadership is about influence--and that starts with being fearless.

It also means not allowing your worries about the consequences to get in the way of taking action. Leaders face many challenges and obstacles throughout their careers, but fearless leaders can overcome them by staying calm under pressure and remaining always composed. 

Leaders don't worry about what others think or say; they lead from their hearts and follow their instincts, no matter how much resistance they may face. They're not afraid to take risks because they know failure is part of success (and vice versa). They don't wait for opportunities to come knocking at their door. Instead, they make it happen and have the experience and data to support their decision.

Fearlessness comes from experience, expertise, or both. Perhaps you’ve never made a dinner for 30 people. You are a competent cook and a planner. There is the option to ponder all the “what ifs,” the things that could go wrong, but you know you have a solid foundation. A solid foundation is an equal part of being fearless.

Fearless leaders don't let their worries get in the way of their beliefs or creative thinking. They know that if they are too worried about what might happen, they won't be able to focus on what is happening right now. A sense of purpose is a strong belief in why you do what you do. 

It's more than just having goals or even being passionate--it knows why those goals matter and how they relate to the world at large. You can develop your sense of purpose by asking yourself: Why am I doing this? What impact does this have on other people? Does this make things better?

Food for thought:

• Fearless isn’t reckless, blind, or impulsive. The sum of your experiences and character measures it.

• Fearless leaders don't let their worries get in the way of their creative thinking.

• Being fearless doesn't mean you don't feel fear; it means you don't let fear control you.

• Things can go wrong and are out of your control. Fearless people are calm.

• When things don't work out as planned, be prepared to pivot.

• Leaders must be fearless to inspire others to follow them through tough times and success.

• Knowing when to say no or not now is part of being fearless.

• Fearless leaders are comfortable being different from other people. Stop and read that again. It is the most challenging part of being fearless. 

You must be different to stand out, be successful, innovate, and lead others. That makes some people very uncomfortable; you are breaking the status quo and their comfort zone. Someone once said of me, “People who are uncomfortable with change are uncomfortable with Lawrence.” Being the fearless contrarian has hurt my professional and personal life as much as it has helped. Over the years, I’ve become more cognizant of the effect it can have. 

Being a leader means taking risks and making decisions based on your beliefs instead of following the crowd as everyone else does. If you don't have any opinions or ideas of your own, then how can anyone follow? You need something that makes you stand out, so if there's no difference between yourself and everyone else, why would anyone want to listen to or follow someone like that?

Leaders must be fearless when it comes to doing the right thing. However, they should never let fear stand in their way of making decisions that benefit the organization, even if they may not personally agree. It's essential for leaders who want to impact their teams and organization.

This is a difficult lesson, and it is achievable by all.

Onward.