Career Courage: How to be Brave at Work
In today's rapidly changing professional landscape, it is essential for individuals to cultivate career courage. Career courage means having the strength to speak up, step up, and advocate for yourself and your ideas in the workplace. It empowers you to become a leader not just for yourself but for your team, company, and community.
Coach Darcy Eikenberg, PCC, presented us with various strategies and advice to increase career courage in the workplace. Coach Darcy is a trained and credentialed coach for leaders and high-performing professionals as well as an author of the book Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Losing Your Job.
Read on for a summary of Coach Darcy’s insights regarding why career courage is crucial in today's world and delve into strategies that can help you develop your courage in the workplace.
The Need for Career Courage
The corporate landscape is dynamic and full of choices, making it crucial to develop the courage to navigate challenges and drive progress. Career courage is all about embracing your authenticity, values, and unique strengths to navigate your professional journey confidently. When you possess career courage, you are more likely to grow as a leader, communicate effectively, and make a lasting impact on your team and organization. It's not just about aiming for a higher position or more significant responsibilities; it's about being true to yourself and seizing opportunities to make a difference.
There are several reasons why career courage is particularly important in today's workplace:
Investing in People: Many companies claim that their most valuable asset is their employees. However, there is often a disconnect between these claims and the actual investment made in employees' growth and development. Career courage empowers you to advocate for yourself and seek the professional development opportunities you need to succeed.
Avoiding Burnout: Employee burnout is a real issue affecting productivity and overall well-being. A lack of courage in addressing workplace challenges can lead to increased stress and exhaustion. Career courage helps you confront burnout-inducing situations and find solutions to maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Embracing Opportunities: In a world where "more" is not always the answer, career courage enables you to focus on what truly matters—connection, community, meaning, and happiness in the workplace. By stepping up and embracing opportunities aligned with your values, you contribute to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven professional life.
It is essential to challenge corporate comfort levels and speak up about crucial issues in the workplace. However, doing this can be intimidating and fear-inducing. Coach Darcy recommends utilizing specific strategies that can help you gain the courage you desire in order to be brave in the workplace without feeling stupid.
Develop Your Career Courage in Three Steps:
1. Mine Your Mistakes: Instead of shying away from mistakes, embrace them as learning opportunities. Reflect on the pain points and challenges you face, and identify any biases or assumptions that may be holding you back. By confronting these mistakes head-on, you can learn and grow, gaining the courage to overcome obstacles in the future.
2. Create Your Courage Criteria: Define your courage criteria by understanding who you truly are, what you value, and the assumptions or biases that influence your decisions. Your courage criteria will act as a filter, helping you make brave decisions that align with your authentic self and core values.
3. Take Your Courage for a Test Drive: Apply your courage criteria to specific actions you are considering. Evaluate how well these actions align with your values and identity, and challenge any limiting assumptions or biases that may be hindering your progress. Remember, discomfort is a sign of growth, so embrace it as you step into courageous action.
Cultivating Your Career Courage Community
Remember, you don't have to go through this journey alone. Build a career courage community around you – people who can support, encourage, and challenge you. This can be anyone from your friends, family, friends-of-friends, colleagues, boss – the list is endless! Seek advice, share experiences, and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share your values and goals.
In-the-Moment Strategies for Career Courage
When faced with a fear-inducing situation, it's essential to have in-the-moment strategies to help you move forward confidently. Here are a few phrases and activities to consider:
“Help Me Understand”: Use this phrase to slow down a conversation and gain clarity. It allows you to process information better and respond thoughtfully.
“I Need Time to Process”: When feeling pressured to make a decision or respond immediately, take a step back. Request some time to think things through and come back with a well-thought-out response.
Teach Others How to Treat You: Set boundaries and communicate your preferences to others. Let them know how you would like to handle certain situations and conversations.
In-the-Moment Note Card: Carry a small note card with reminders of your in-the-moment strategies. This will help you stay focused and confident during critical discussions
Cultivating career courage is a vital skill for personal growth and making a significant impact. By learning from our mistakes, identifying our courage criteria, and taking meaningful action, we can build the confidence needed to lead ourselves and others toward success. Embrace discomfort as a sign of growth and surround yourself with a supportive community that helps foster your career courage. In doing so, you'll be well-prepared to navigate the challenges of the modern workplace and make a positive difference in your career and community. By embracing your unique strengths, values, and perspectives we can create a workplace that embraces authenticity, courage, and positive change. Remember, you are not alone in this endeavor. Together we can create a more courageous, innovative, and impactful workforce.
For additional career insight and advice, we encourage you to visit Coach Darcy’s website at RedCapeRevolution.com now.
Seeking financial advice?
