Difficult Truth and Ridiculous Grace
Moxie is the X-factor that transforms a crisis into an opportunity, enabling leaders to cut through complexity and lead with confidence. This moxie, or courage or boldness, separates exceptional leaders from the rest. It allows them to not just survive a crisis, but to thrive in it, creating an environment where challenges fuel innovation and growth.
In times of significant change, effective leadership isn’t just about survival—it’s about transformation. Leaders with a clear vision, an authentic care for people, and a propensity for moxie not only navigate challenges but also turn them into opportunities for growth and great success.
Crises, whether they come in the form of economic downturns, operational disruptions, or unexpected global events, test a leader’s ability to think on their feet and act decisively. Interestingly, these are the same skills required to take an organization to new heights, even without a current or looming crisis. Leaders understand the importance of proactively shaping outcomes, rather than simply responding to them. They know that building resilient, agile teams starts with having the foresight to prepare and the confidence to lead through uncertainty.
Waiting until the crisis or the opportunity (sometimes one and the same) is upon you is too late to prepare. Intentionally working on your skills as an authentic, caring, committed leader--and constantly pushing and stretching your own comfort zone--is a continuous effort. And there is no time like the present to get started or recommit. Read books, find a mentor group, engage a coach, attend a webinar, go to a seminar--and if any of these activities or people are not giving you difficult truth and ridiculous grace, then you are not in the right place.
One thing I love about our work at Bryant Group is that we get to partner with and support leaders who are changing their organizations, their communities and the world every day. Clients tell us how much they learn from us…but I’m not sure they know how much we learn from them. We are continuously aware that the leadership journey is a two-way street. I recently watched one of our clients work patiently with his leadership team to help them see his vision and bring them along through dialogue, respect, and slowing down --when what he really wanted to do was speed up. That was a great lesson for me, as I can tend to just steamroll ahead. I am thankful that I now have that tool in my leadership tool box…and am pretty sure our team will be thankful to that client for stretching me in that way.
We find that the soft skills of leadership are not at all soft; in fact, they may be the hardest skills you’ll ever learn. I will leave you with one of my favorite moxie-filled quotes from Brené Brown: “Choose courage over comfort.” Yes, Brené. Every time.
Note: A nod to singer Tauren Wells, who sings about “hard truth and ridiculous grace” in the song “Known.”
