Look your fear in the face . . . and do what’s right in spite of it.

The theme for this year’s Christian Leadership Alliance conference was “Courageous Leadership.” Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” Courage is not the absence of fear. Rather, it is squarely facing that which you fear and doing what is right in spite of your fear. Fear comes into play a great deal in the Christian workplace. That’s sad, because Scripture teaches us that fear is the antithesis of love. So what is courageous leadership? Simply put, I believe that courageous leadership is best exemplified when people (not just those in leadership positions) are willing to do what is right regardless of the potential cost to themselves. For example, I’ve never wanted or needed a job badly enough that I’ve been willing to compromise my integrity just to get or keep it. Are you ever asked to do something that goes against your conscience, yet you do it anyway?  Why? It’s because you’re motivated by fear. It’s been said that the two great motivators are love and fear. Most of our decisions are driven by these two motivators. Here’s the deal, however. We get to choose. What decisions, problems or opportunities are you facing today that are causing you fear? As Eleanor said, “stop to look fear in the face.” Then do the right thing in spite of your fear.