Leadership involves being able to tackle new situations and deal with failure, because we don’t always lead others into the known. If your burning desire is to maintain the status quo, go ahead and stick with the safe. But if you want to move the world or even better your organization, you need know how to navigate the uncharted and the scary, so you can bring others confidently with you.

That kind of leadership takes gumption, and one way we can get it is by pushing beyond what we think of as our boundaries in all kinds of ways. Dressing differently, traveling solo, jumping out of a plane, learning to sing – they can all make a person a better leader. By giving ourselves proof of our own courage we give ourselves the confidence to lead others.

 

Shelagh has spent a lifetime balancing family, work, and pets with her need to do adventuresome things. Learning to fly small planes, riding horseback across the Mongolian steppes, living in the UK, Italy, America, and back to Canada (with kids and pets), and drastically changing her career several times led her to believe she knew something about making adventures happen. Then she started investigating just how she and other women managed it, and realized there were other acts of daring-do – such as singing in a rock band, or wearing pink, or indeed creating Gumption – that were way scarier.

The creation of Gumption has therefore been a very personal journey, as well reflecting the intrepid experiences of all those lovely women whose contribution of wisdom and know-how has made it all possible.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/time-to-thrive-finding-success-and-purpose-in-your-business/exclusive-content