{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Being a Brave Leader with Kimberly Davis","description":"What does it mean to be a brave leader? This is our 10th installment in our HumansFirst series of heart-to-heart discussions on what it means to live, love, lead, and work in a humans first way. Today we\u2019re joined by Kimberly Davis, the author of Brave Leadership and the Founder and Director of OnStage Leadership, and on this episode she talks about showing up as our best selves, making our impact, and leading from the heart. Being your authentic self For many, authenticity means \u201cI get to be what I want to be and it doesn\u2019t matter what anybody else thinks.\u201d But from a leadership perspective, it really does matter what people think and how they experience you. Authenticity is in the eye of the beholder, and the way Kimberly thinks of authenticity is: if we were seated together, would you experience this leader \u2014 from your lens \u2014 as someone who is genuine and worthy of your trust? Are they someone you can rely upon and believe in? Because that is what is going to allow them to lead and influence others. How are you truly connecting with the human beings you\u2019re trying to lead? Leading in a humans first kind of way Humans first is really about cultivating humanity in the workplace and bringing the whole person to work. So brave leadership is about bringing your best, most authentic and powerful self to every situation that you face, so that you can connect to the hearts of your team members, and be someone they don\u2019t have to follow, but want to follow. Reframing bravery The traditional definition of bravery is to face and endure danger or pain. But you can\u2019t work with that mindset. Kimberly reframes bravery as being her best, most authentic, and powerful self: the Kimberly she is when she is being respectful, responsible, and mindful, who pays attention to what other people need from her. It is stepping into your own power, that is, your ability to create change based on how you show up in the world. We need leaders who are willing to take responsibility for the impact that they make in the situations that they face, and on the lives that they\u2019re leading. We need leaders who are able to connect to the humanity in front of them. Your best self Your best self is you at your most positive and your most effective. It\u2019s who you are when you\u2019re at your very best \u2014 not who you\u2019re told you should be. Your best self is your best you. A caveat: many people will say \u201cI\u2019m just being myself\u201d as an excuse for pretty crazy behavior. But if it\u2019s hurtful to someone, it\u2019s not your best self. Qualities of a leader One of the most important things a leader can do is see the possibilities in others that they may not even see in themselves. That bridges the confidence in their ability to do things greater than they didn\u2019t even think they were capable of doing, and allows us to lift each other up and rise together. You have the ability to have an impact in every situation that you face. So the question you should be asking yourself is: what impact do I want to have? The comparison trap When you feel yourself comparing yourself to others, remember: you matter simply because you\u2019re you. Not because of anything you\u2019ve done or achieved, but because of how you show up in the world and the impact that you make. So take one small step toward having the impact that you want to have. One small action. Don\u2019t think about the whole world, think about this moment right now. Who are you with? How can you make an impact on them? How do you want them to feel about their work, or what\u2019s possible? Heart and soul cannot be commoditized You can mandate someone to come in to work, but you can\u2019t mandate that they\u2019re going to do it with excellence. You can\u2019t mandate that they\u2019re going to do it with care. You can\u2019t mandate that they\u2019re going to give it everything they\u2019ve got. That\u2019s something they get to choose, and if that\u2019s something you want from people, you can\u2019t treat it like it\u2019s an exchange. It\u2019s a gift they\u2019re giving you, and they have to want to give it. What you can do is create the environment and the opportunity that allows them to flourish. Want to grow as a HumansFirst leader and connect in meaningful conversations with other HumansFirst leaders? Join me for the HumansFirst Book Club, where we do a deep dive into a book a month and often engage the authors in conversation. Resources for Kimberly Davis LinkedIn Facebook Twitter #BraveMoment Twitter Chat (8pm Central, Tuesday Nights) Onstage Leadership Website Brave Leadership Website Brave Leadership: Unleash Your Most Confident, Powerful, and Authentic Self to Get the Results You Need (Amazon) Resources The Abundance Loop: 8 Steps to Manifest Conscious Wealth (Amazon) Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard (Amazon) ","author_name":"Higher Purpose Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/higherpurposepodcast.com","html":"