The Courage Expert, Sandra Ford Walston

While I am not a great believer in New Year Resolutions – resolve must be renewed each day and in a new ways to keep them fresh, current and more importantly, relevant – whatever they may be, there is one essential building block needed to carry them out and that is courage.

Whatever you want to do, note that statement, whatever you want to do, it will take courage. Think about it, to find a new job, challenge the boss, write a book, start out on your own, lose weight, get fit or improve departmental management skills, the first thing you will need is courage or you won't even start.

If you never start, which is too common a malady, it doesn't matter what other skills you need, possess or think you need you will achieve nothing. Fooling yourself into thinking that you are waiting for the right moment or the right opportunity is tantamount to accepting your 2007 resolutions will be the same as 2006's.

So, if we accept that courage is the starting block to winning our races who better to ask for advice than The Courage Expert^TM, Sandra Ford Walston. So starting this month, part one of two, exclusive in-depth interviews with Sandra that will leave you enlightened and motivated about the power of courage to achieve almost anything.

I want to thank Sandra for taking time out of her extremely busy schedule to provide her unique insights into courage and its applications. Enjoy part one and look out for part two soon and let both Sandra and myself know how many races you start this year.

Let's start with a foundation that reveals a few perspectives about what courage is and is not, and then move into my research and findings.

Misplaced Courage
First of all, courage has been misplaced and labeled incorrectly. Traditionally, only facing fear under perilous circumstances is labeled courageous. Running into a burning building to save a pet, pushing a pedestrian out of the way of a speeding car, jumping in front of a bear to divert its pursuit (of you), a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save his squad, or tackling a robber in flight are readily accepted instances.

The perspective you hold about claiming your courage makes a difference. One radio announcer said, "It's the man who pulls a guy out of the Potomac River when a plane goes down or the guy who runs into a burning building to get some kid out — that's courageous, not some woman who teaches in a hard-luck school in the ghetto for twenty-five years because 'they need her' or some kid who sends in his stupid allowance to the Red Cross when there's a flood in Africa, or the guy who tells on a cheating boss. These are nice people, but they're not courageous! Real courage takes a lot of muscle and split-second thinking."

In my opinion, this radio announcer denigrates "true courage" by confining it to physical bravado. Most ideas about courage lean toward split-second sensationalism that relies on instinct. Perhaps, he believes only larger-than-life people where you survive or die are the prime personality types capable of responding in an emergency. Yet, in between, there's all of life for we "everyday people." Besides, plenty of ordinary (and petite) people such as Rosa Parks have made their mark on history along with other "famous" people such as Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela or Mother Theresa.

Courage has been misplaced and labeled incorrectly. What I am suggesting is that everyday people like you and me, display courage constantly and subtlety. Split-second heroism and everyday courage are not one and the same. Courage is much more complex than spontaneous reactions to traumatic events. We "everyday people" can embrace our courage and pass it on to others. But how? You do it by inviting the original definition into your life.

Etymology of Courage
Courage originates from the Old French corage, meaning "heart and spirit." I apply this original definition to my life. Becoming aware of the behaviors and rewards of courage I feel more empowered to be discerning and better able to respond to my inherent energy of courage. The word virtue in Latin means "energy." Paradoxically, hiding my courage drains my energy. I know when my reservoir of courage is low or brimming over. My reservoir is full when I turn down a piece of business because it doesn't feel like the right fit. I also know when I swallow my voice or sell my soul. I have the dignity to dare. When I constantly ask "Am I being true to who I am" I know I am applying the original definition to my life.

Courage Research
After nine years of original research I have discovered that courage is defined differently for different people. What's important to realize is that your definition of courage defines who you are! What's your definition of courage?

Based on the first five years of my courage research that yielded my first book, I extracted twelve behaviours of courage found on the "Source Wheel" diagram )see: here. People will label courage with one of those twelve behaviours, such as living convictions, manifesting vision, affirming strength and determination or conquering fear.

Virtues are Abstract
Most people say, "Courage is not even a word I had given much thought to." Why? It's is a BIG word! Like all virtues, it's abstract. We grow up learning other virtues, such as honesty, integrity or humor, but courage is the forgotten virtue because people do not recognize their everyday actions as significant. Courage is a state of Being. Sometimes courage is about quietly blazing a trail as a rebel with a cause who sacrifices for a bigger principle. Acts of personal courage rarely roar!

Each day your actions define who you are and reveal your heart. A society of only hero worshippers leaves most of us out. Most people do not perceive themselves as courageous and only 11% of women do. What's required is a shift in cultural tenets that begin with learning about courage at school, home and work. Then you learn that courage is the mother of all the virtues.

To initiate that change in perspective, answer these three questions: (1) When was the last time you used the word? (2) Are you willing to invite the original definition into your life? (3) When your time comes to pass on were you true to your heart and spirit (if so, there will be little to regret)? There is an untapped reservoir of courage waiting in us all.

Why Research Courage?
I chose to research the behaviours of courage when I faced a multi-faceted hurdle, or what some would call a dark night of the soul. I always felt my courage was innate but under this duress and during times of uncertainty, I had to summon it and trust that it would propel me through this situation. Would I be able to step up and reinvent myself one more time? This is about trusting in the moment my instincts. My story is not unusual. Most people have a story that pushed them to make a change, face the facts or sacrifice for a nobler journey. The problem is we don't label these forks in the road as courage; yet, the choice and capability is waiting to be awakened. If I can do it, you can do it!

Once I transitioned out of my deep pothole, I began a new journey that started with researching the feminine behaviours of courage. I wondered if other women (and now men) called upon their courage during times of uncertainty or suffering. Now, with nine years of research, my clarification about this virtue continues to deepen. Clarity is a cousin to courage. My dear friend Blanche Napoleon has a keen sense of this energy when she shared, "Courage is both my friend and my teacher. Without courage, I would be an empty shell. With courage, I am complete and full of love and yearning for life, and whatever it brings."

Too Much or Too Little?
I don't think you can ever have too much courage (and I don't mean being foolhardy). I did not write the book I needed to read; yet, I know when my reservoir is on low. Most people will change when the pain of staying in the old pattern is greater than the pain of change. But, why go through so much suffering? There is choice: you can choose to build and draw from a reservoir of courage. This supports you to stand up for the self you know to be you. The choice is yours and it starts with whether you will choose to give yourself permission, and to be conscious about your spirit's dignity and true essence. This is not found in Business 101! You know when you've stayed on a job far too long because it's bleeding your heart not feeding your spirit. When you choose to design new choices you limit the residual of regret.

Male Notions of Courage
I have not conducted research on courage gender differences. Gender colors behavior, perception and perspectives. I have researched and discovered that throughout history, women have always acted from their hearts, but male notions of courage as heroic have diminished recognition of feminine courage. Perhaps, women have been asleep (unconscious) to the truth that they have always been courageous. Discovering courage awakens an ancient feminine energy that every woman should utilize.

Women and Courage at Work
In today's business world, courage has a much deeper meaning and a more relevant role for women such as the family-career balancing act, difficulty with confrontation, reentering the workplace, political finesse, undermining other women and releasing the way people judge women who stand in their "originality."

When women exhibit courage in the workplace, such as taking a stand on a precarious issue, speaking up as a new hire in a traditional male industry or overcoming a professional risk by taking a project they believe in "underground" taps into a valuable personal reserve called courage. This energy is very different from the sensational examples highlighted in Question #1. Courageous women "step up" to the next level. They designed their steps rather than letting outside influences dictate who they are or what they should be. As a result of learning to live wholly in the moment and having the courage to stop and reflect, they processed choices clearly and quickly, took action more readily and stayed centered in their Truth. Courage Centering™ is a program I conduct to assist people in this process.

The Label Trap
Unfortunately, when working women do demonstrate the behaviors of courage, they're often labeled with some unflattering word to keep them "in their place." On a performance review, they may receive what I call the "too syndrome" comments, such as "too strong," "too driven" or "too outspoken." The irony is that for men, these descriptions are often desirable. However, if used to inspire a woman to action, these stereotypical limitations can actually benefit women and increase their courage quotient. Facing habitual stereotypes, the first step is to acknowledge and honor in every human spirit their personal courageous behaviors. This perpetuates change in typecast.

Most organizations do undervalue the power of courage and its bottom line effect. It's the same with quality control, risk-management or diversity. How do you label or pigeon-hole an abstract? How do capture the nuances of the human condition?

In reality, each person has the capacity to be a courageous leader regardless of his or her company position. Whether you're a graphic designer, a sales executive, or the CEO, how you confront workday issues and contribute to your own professional advancement speak volume about your courage quotient and set a leadership example others can follow. So why aren't organizations catching on?

Courage is Caged
Unfortunately, at work most people do not identify and display courage as one of their primary leadership skills. They mistakenly believe that courage is only relevant during particularly risky times, such as downsizing. As a result, they don't perceive exploring new ideas, confronting gossip, transitioning to a new career, transcending rejection or taking initiative as courageous leadership moments. If an employee starts to awaken his/her individual courage, then he/she may confront elements of corruption and begin to ask: "What can I affect in our culture when corporate corruption seems to be so pervasive? How am I selling my soul?"

Unfortunately, corruption severs the company's spirits as well as those of the individual—the opposite of a symbiotic relationship. The origin of corruption is uncovered in a broad spectrum of organizational hypocrisies. These examples range from a management team in disarray, a history of underlying animosity or a handful of people with tentative interpersonal skills that implode an organization.

Ask yourself: Are you a profile in courage at work? Chances are you don't think of yourself in that light. Courage is the awareness of the heart. The heart has an unlimited capacity to hold all that you are to be; other wise, confess now, and change. The change begins with a shift in your "perspective lens" and it occurs when you come to understand and practice of the art of Being present. Present to your actions. Regaining your courage means you step up. The opposite is dragging your feet.

Additionally, courage leadership in business also means managing with courage the paradoxes that occur, such as:

• If I tell my boss we've understated our debt by a billion dollars, I lose my job. If I don't tell my boss, I may go to jail.
• If people are empowered with courage, then how do I stop them or control them?

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