Originally published April 2020. Updated November 27, 2025.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act anyway.

Courage in modern work

Courage sits at the heart of leadership. It is what allows managers to take responsibility, make difficult calls, and inspire confidence.

According to Brené Brown’s research, courage and vulnerability are inseparable, one cannot exist without the other. Leaders who act with courage create cultures of openness and experimentation. They give others permission to be brave too, transforming fear into collective momentum.

Managers face difficult conversations, bold decisions, and constant uncertainty. Courage is built one choice at a time. It looks like:

• Speaking truthfully even when it is uncomfortable.
  
• Trying new ideas without knowing the outcome.
  
• Backing your people and giving them autonomy.
  

Using the Lupa Lens: Act

In the Act phase of the LUPA Method, courage turns insight into impact. It is about leading through conviction, not perfection.

A reflection for 2025

In the age of transparency, employees crave authentic leaders who are human, not heroic. Courage today means vulnerability, saying “I don’t know yet, but I’m learning.”

Ready to help your managers build courage and confidence?

Explore The Impact Engine and Beyond the Boundary, Alpha Lupa experiences that help managers make bold, authentic decisions and lead with clarity.