Ditch "Fearless"

Ditch “Fearless.” Lead With These Four Essential Qualities

I used to cringe when introduced as the “fearless leader” when I worked in large organizations. Though well-intended, the phrase reflects a misguided view of leadership that emphasizes bravado and certainty over connection, clarity, and humility.

Here are four qualities I believe people in leadership roles should practice:

1. Build and Maintain Trust

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about having people who choose to follow, and people only follow when they trust someone.

Trust is earned when people believe their leaders prioritize the organization and value their team. Trusted leaders listen, synthesize ideas, and take collective action. When people believe in their leaders, they speak up, contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, and sometimes grow into leaders themselves. This is how organizations maximize their effectiveness and expand their impact.

2. Turn Problems into Team-Building Opportunities

Effective leaders treat challenges, whether problems or projects, as opportunities. They help staff build new skills and strengthen internal connections, transforming the daily work into team building.

3. Support Change with a Three-Legged Stool

Every successful change effort I’ve been involved with, from technology implementation to organizational restructuring, included these three components:

• A Clear, Driving Purpose: Explain what you’re doing and why. Repeat it consistently..

• Defined Roles: Everyone should know who’s leading and how others contribute.

• Superb Project Management: Empower strong staff and support them.

4. Communicate to Connect, Not Just Inform

During the pandemic, I had the role of communicating with thousands of employees in a large organization, some remote and some on-site. I learned through trial and error that the values conveyed and connections made through communications mattered as much, if not more, than the content.

Employees understood through the communications that leadership respected and listened to them, not just that we provided updates. In an age of information overload, don’t just inform - humanize. As a colleague once told me, “Information informs, but relationships transform.”

These qualities aren’t developed and honed through fearlessnes! They require presence, humility, and discipline. In my experience, a healthy dose of fear in a leader demonstrates they know the stakes of leadership and that what they do really matters to people.

I hope what I’ve learned is helpful in some way. Please send me your thoughts and questions!