Sometimes Bravery Is About Stepping Aside

Sometimes, bravery is about stepping aside.

A colleague I worked closely with was leading an important initiative, but she started to doubt herself.

She had the experience.
She had the judgment.
She had earned the trust of the team.

But she wasn't sure she was ready.

That's when I had a choice:

I could step in and "rescue" the project.
Or I could step back and show her that I believed she was more than ready.

I chose to step back.

I encouraged her, yes.
But more importantly, I gave her the space to lead.

She did. And she did it brilliantly.

Moments like these rarely show up on performance reviews or get recognized in shareholder letters.

But they matter.

Because leadership is about listening closely enough to hear the quiet doubt and having the courage to help someone rise above it.

Sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is trust someone else's potential more than they trust it themselves.

That's the kind of bravery I've come to believe in.

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