#376 Leading like Shy Ronnie?

Courage isn't just a virtue—it's a leadership necessity. In this powerful Mindset Monday episode, we explore how meaningful leadership emerges from the perfect combination of deep conviction and the courage to stand by what you believe.

Remember trying to hear someone whispering from across a crowded room? Leadership without conviction creates the same frustrating disconnect. Through compelling examples from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, I demonstrate how history's most influential leaders didn't necessarily have the loudest voices—they had the most unwavering conviction in their message.

Bold leadership comes with significant costs. It demands sacrificing popularity, comfort, and easy approval. Yet these sacrifices build the foundation of what truly matters in leadership: trust, clarity, and forward momentum. As Brené Brown brilliantly puts it, "You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both." This choice faces us daily in both personal and professional contexts.

The good news? People don't follow perfection—they follow conviction. You don't need to roar to lead effectively; you simply need to stand firmly in your beliefs. Your authentic voice, when anchored in purpose, naturally cuts through the noise of indecision and hesitation. Your leadership moments may not make global headlines, but they create ripples of impact throughout your sphere of influence.

What conviction are you holding back because of fear? What would leading with courage look like for you today—not someday in the future, but right now? Share your thoughts about choosing courage over comfort at growthinstigators.com and let's continue this conversation about transforming leadership through conviction and courage.

Chapters

• 0:00 Leading With a Whisper
• 0:23 Courage and Conviction in Leadership
• 1:16 Choose Courage Over Comfort
• 2:20 Call to Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Have you ever seen someone try to lead with a whisper? It's like watching a motivational speaker read from a cereal box. It doesn't quite move the room. Or and don't judge me, look up Shy Ronnie, an SNL digital short with Rihanna and Andy Stamberg. It's hilarious. It makes a great point.

Speaker 1: 0:23

Welcome to message 376 of the Growth Instigators hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Mindset Monday leading with courage and conviction. I didn't say courage and conviction. Here's the one big idea I want to land today.

Speaker 1: 0:46

Conviction is the engine, courage is the ignition. You need both to lead with impact. I mean, we all admire bold leaders until we realize that boldness costs something. It costs popularity, it costs comfort, it costs approval, but it builds trust, clarity and momentum. Think of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. His voice didn't shake the world because it was loud. It shook the world because it was rooted in conviction. Or Rosa Parks one quiet no that echoed across decades.

Speaker 1: 1:27

Your leadership moment might not be global, but it is significant and it will take courage to lead with what you believe in, especially when it's not trending or popular or easy. Hey, here's what I've noticed People don't follow perfection, they follow conviction, and you don't have to roar, you just have to stand and the right voice, anchored in purpose, cuts through the noise. Brene Brown says it this way you can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both. So here's your leadership check-in. What conviction are you holding back because of fear? And what would leading with courage look like today? Not next month, not next quarter, not next year, but today? Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let's chat. What's one area in your life or leadership where you need to choose courage over comfort? And, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do?