“Imagination is its own form of courage.” -Frank Underwood, House of Cards

Your “courage muscle” as I like to call it, develops and strengthens each time you are put in a challenging situation. if you’re in the business of leadership, either for your own professional growth or for a company, consider how imagination helps develop and enrich courage.

According to this interview with Ram Charan, who advises senior leaders, having the courage to imagine is more important than having pure knowledge. He talks about how CEOs can’t rely on analytics anymore. He talks about three keys to better decision making with the first one the ability to see change before anyone else. And that requires to some degree, imagination and courage.

So…if we look at Ram Charan’s advice more in-depth, what does imagination imply for staying courageous on a daily basis?

 

  1. When you imagine, you open the door to possibilities. Sounds trite and it is but here’s the rub. When we’re up against a challenge or issue, the first thing we often ask ourselves is, “is this going to be worth it?” Someone trying to sustain a business might ask, “is this financial risk worth it?” In leadership and customer service terms, we’re looking at “whether the investment might be profitable.”

2. When you imagine, you sustain optimism. How do courageous people stay optimistic? I love this bit from an article on Forbes.com: “It’s no coincidence that Ronald Reagan, one of the most optimistic Americans we’ll ever know, was designated “the great communicator.” Colin Powell served under Reagan and said that optimism was the secret behind Reagan’s charisma. In fact everyone who knew Reagan described him as an eternal optimist, someone who “believed in a better future.”

That’s the key – Reagan believed. He imagined a better world. He imagined all the pleasant possibilities. 

Optimistic leaders trust, believe and have the faith. If you’re running a business, you need to be able to see the big picture despite the odds and obstacles. Here I am investing my hard-earned money in my future “Giving Voice to Your Courage” brand. After four years of “Giving Voice to Your Story,” I now feel I’ve gone through the stages of understanding how my own courage is part of a bigger picture. Although there are no guarantees in life, I am optimistic that this hefty investment will propel my career forwards and bring me in contact with the people who need to hear my message.

There’s a reason why optimistics are not just successful, but more courageous. Their thinking is not contingent on any rational “right brain” type of thought, which might constrict them.

3. When you imagine, you allow for “creative play.” Leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs don’t have time for creative play. They’re too focused on success. Our society doesn’t allow too much for creative play. It’s not “fashionable” or lucrative. So it’s up to us to create it.

As Dr. Randy Pausch once famously said, “never lose the child-like wonder. It’s just too important. It’s what drives us.”

You might then be wondering how is child-like wonder linked to having courage? Here’s a few thoughts:

  • When your inner-child is having fun in the moment, you’re not thinking, “how the heck am I going to get through this hurdle? How am I going to be successful at this?” You’re just having fun. Plain and simple. That is what is important. That’s what counts. I know I need to stay open to more moments of child-like wonder in my life.

 

So there you have it – three ways more use of imagination drives away the fear, doubt and uncertainty. Your intuition often knows when you’re shying away from staying true to your imaginative self.

 

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