The secret sauce to change leadership

I’ve had the privilege of working with many inspiring change leaders over the course of my career.

Change leaders not by title but by how they led.

Diverse leaders who challenged the status quo to create transformative change.

Some were community leaders who fought tirelessly for a more equitable and just society. Some were corporate leaders who put their jobs on the line to challenge systemic issues and shift culture from within. Others were government leaders who took unpopular stances to push forward progressive public policies.

Despite how different their professional and lived experiences were, these change leaders all had one thing in common - they didn't let fear limit their potential for positive impact.

Prominent thinkers have put out tonnes of work on how courage is core to leading impactful change. For example, Aiko Bethea - diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) expert - talks about courage being a prerequisite to lasting, meaningful and transformative change. Aiko states that transformative DEI work requires people to be introspective about hard things such as power and privilege, which means they need to have the courage to confront the uncomfortable emotions that come with it. Simon Sinek - author and speaker - says that courage is integral to changing organizations and individuals from a finite to an infinite mindset. Simon believes that shifting to an infinite mindset requires leaders to have the courage to not compromise their values for short-term gains driven by status quo pressures.

So how do change leaders tap into that secret sauce - aka courage?

Here are three characteristics strong change leaders share.

1. Emotional consciousness and curiosity

Change leaders understand how their emotions show up and how to navigate them on a day-to-day and in times of stress.

Change is often ambiguous and can surface a range of feelings like anxiety, grief and helplessness. This is normal. Naming and acknowledging these emotions helps you accept them without judgement - in other words it gives you permission to feel them rather than feel bad about them. This allows you to be curious about what these feelings are trying to tell you so that you can choose what you want to do with them.

Emotional consciousness and curiosity can empower change leaders to make intentional choices that don’t impede their ability to make transformative change.

2. Vulnerability

Change leaders see vulnerability as a sign of strength vs. weakness and do not shy away from discomfort.

This could be discomfort from openly admitting you don’t have all the answers. Or being wrong and unlearning what you thought you knew. Perhaps it’s from causing unintentional harm and taking accountability for your actions. Or making a tough decision that you know will piss off some people. For people from historically marginalized communities, it could be from sharing your unapologetic self and speaking your truth.

Change leaders often see discomfort as an inevitable part of growth and embrace the vulnerability that comes with leading authentically.

3. Community

Change leaders have a solid community to lean on when they need that boost of courage.

Changing the status quo takes time, energy and perseverance. As you navigate uncharted territory, your community can keep you focused, grounded and accountable to your cause. They also help you recognize what’s within your sphere of influence and when to reach out for help because leading transformative change is not a solo expedition.

Change leaders rely on their community to remind them to do the right thing vs. the easy thing - no matter how hard.

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When we think about what makes transformative change so challenging, we often point to external things like rallying people around an inspiring cause, having a solid strategy and plan to drive change, or getting enough funding to sustain momentum.

While those things are true, I think that the hardest part is actually the internal work change leaders need to do to understand who they are and how they show up. This foundation enables change leaders to consciously choose the courageous path - especially when it matters the most.