Create a Culture of Courage

Workplace courage is a label often applied to those with the guts to call out unethical behaviors or ineffective practices. The idea of calling out these sorts of incidents may be freighting or prevent employees from speaking up.

How do you think this impacts innovation and growth in an organization?

What if we create a culture that welcomes and rewards courageous acts like challenging the status quo or candidly speaking out on policies or processes no longer effective.

These acts of courage lead to growth in the workplace. Research proves that when employees display courageous behavior, it promotes growth for individuals and groups.

The more these behaviors are displayed, the better the outcome for stronger, more capable, and more productive individuals, teams, and organizations [1]. For example, giving honest feedback to people in charge encourages others to openly express new ideas that may increase the effectiveness of practices.

Let’s explore how employers can engage employees in courageous behaviors:

Lead by example, and engage in difficult conversations.

Learn to manage difficult or uncomfortable interactions, and hold open town halls or forums with your department or group of direct reports. Discuss what’s working, what needs to be improved, or what processes the team should stop doing. It shows others you’re open to hearing feedback and are taking the initiative to include them in strategic processes or decision-making.

Create opportunities to be courageous.

This is done by simply placing direct reports on projects outside their comfort zone or introducing them to new training. By doing this, you are helping to build their courage muscle. Don’t forget it’s equally important to provide them with the managerial support they need to fill in gaps.

Invest in relationships.

Courageous leaders work to earn the trust of others by engaging with them individually and in one-on-one settings to establish a relationship. Not only will it build their comfortability by challenging the norms with their superior but with upper management as well when appropriate.

These behaviors can inspire a courageous culture and promote learning and growth, which is beneficial to the organization and pushes everyone beyond the status quo.


[1] E.A. Bruno and J.R. Detert, “The Workplace Courage Acts Index (WCAI): Observations and Impact,” Academy of Management Proceedings 2019, no. 1 (August 2019)

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