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I have never hired for courage before. I have looked back at my past job descriptions and the word courage is no where to be found. This bothers me.

I’m going to start hiring for courage. I’m also going to start looking for more of it in my relationships and the people I commit to.

Courage is a powerful trait. Courage is the fuel that enables a lot of things. It takes courage to:

Say no to a customer
Not to come down on price
Disagree with your boss
Suggest a new product
Show your weaknesses
Start something new
Start over
Try a different approach
Fire a customer
Take risks
Hold your ground when you believe you are right
Admit your wrong
Not go with the crowd
Highlight errors and mistakes
Express unpopular opinions
Call out the elephant in the room
Be accountable for your mistakes (it’s easy to be accountable for your successes)
Put others first
Try new things
Accept criticism
Start a business
Be different
Be uncomfortable
Try
Fail

Courage is at the heart of all great efforts. Courage allows us to do the hard stuff. It allows us to be OK with being uncomfortable.

All the great successes I have witnessed have come about because someone had the courage to do something different, to challenge the status quo, to take a risk, to be willing to fail.

Change and growth can not take root without courage. Knowing this why aren’t we all looking for the courageous?

I know I’m going to start!

http://twitter.com/bmertelj Blaž Mertelj

Great, yes, it is spreading the Love

A question: how do you ask or check for courage in na interview? What comes in mind is asking something that requires courage to answer in a right way, correct?
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

I would ask about their past. Ex: What is the biggest decision you've ever made? That would tell you a lot. Another tool is to probe their references.

It's difficult for sure. I'm going to spend more time on this. I'll report back in a future post on what I learn.

Great question Blaz

Sent from my iPad – therefore please excuse any blatant spelling or grammatical errors, I blame the on-screen keypad.
Eduardo Duran

Wouldn't you think that the courage you're describing is nothing but being authentic and truthful to one's (or the Company) values? Granted, you need courage to be authentic, but the key question I'd like to ask you is: How can you tell if someone is authentic? You certainly can't from an interview…

Culture is also a big player on this matter. In Latin America, for instance, Organizations are very hierarchic, and a subordinate knows not to bypass or counter-tell his boss (that could be taken as an insult by the manager).

Indeed an interesting subject. I would like to know a little more on it, and understand how/when to apply internationally or not.

Judgement cannot be made from the cover.
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

Eduardo,

You make a great point about different cultures. I don't know enough about other cultures to make a blanket statement there.

What I do believe is that progress, growth and greatness comes from those with courage, whether that's the courage to say a cultural norm is wrong or to go out on ones own and start a business. At the end of the day courage wins.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1244181456 Gina Gordon Lannin

Thank you! I am going to print this to remind myself to live with courage every day. I also think we have to give ourselves credit for the courageous decisions we have made. I haven't given myself enough credit in the past because I didn't “jump in enthusiastically with both feet” but I did them anyway. We are starting a new business, and many of the points you brought up are things we talk about every day! There is a natural flow or ease that occurs once the decision has been made, then you can just stick to your guns and either something works for you or it doesn't.
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

The courageous win! Good luck with your new business. Keep those guns a blazin' and you'll make it.

Let me know how things go, I'm always interested to hear about an entrepreneurs success.
http://www.themadpeacock.com themadpeacock

my favorite courage related quote that is particularly applicable to sales is:
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. – Winston Churchill
http://uptownuncorked.com geechee_girl

I love this post Great concepts for hiring (and friendships)
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

Thanks Leslie,

It seemed fresh when I read it again. I think I need to put into my Top 10.
http://uptownuncorked.com geechee_girl

I agree – definitely top ten worthy

Looking for Courage

Keenan 411

Keenan a Top 50 Sales and Marketing Influencer for 2012

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