What is Fearless Leadership?

Fearless Leaders Lead With Humanity

Fearless leaders are BRAVE, because they are not afraid to lead with humanity. Why does it take fearlessness to lead with humanity, you might ask? Because it takes more time, effort and emotional energy to lead with humanity than leading with a hard edge. Some people will tell you that leading with a hard edge asserts your power position and people will work harder. Not so! Production and results are important, it is what we all strive for in business, and greater results are achieved by relating to people’s humanity and individuality.

Leading with a hard edge sucks the joy right out of the job, puts people on edge and has a negative effect on long term results. I call these leaders “the pounders”. You all know what I’m talking about, because we have all worked for one, or perhaps we have been this type of leader ourselves. People and teams can produce results in this type of environment, but they are often short-lived, and any advantages come a huge cost to long term results.

To manage with humanity, combined with toughness and a willingness to make the hard decisions, one needs to be vigilant and fearless. It is a nuanced dance, knowing how to lead in this manner. But it yields lasting productivity, revenue gains, and loyal teams.

My Five Pillars of Fearless Leadership, which spell out the word BRAVE, are: B for bold; R for respectful; A for adventurous; V for valiant; and E for empathetic. I’d be happy to chat with anyone about how to make this leadership style a reality.

Sandy Heydt is former c-suite marketing executive with a background as a counseling psychologist. She is an organizational start-up and turnaround specialist, working with business owners and investors worldwide, including human space flight, flying car companies, and luxury hotels. Skilled at maximizing human potential, she is a leadership coach and speaker who focuses on leading with humanity. You can reach her at sandy@heydt.co.