The headlines of Jacinda Arden stepping down from her role truly hit the headlines.

Being a leader – and a human – that has the courage to be open, kind, and stand by what’s right at that time, will always be open to interpretation. As Brene Brown said, “daring leaders must care for and be connected to the people they lead”.

Yet often daring leaders forget themselves.

I’ve discovered that because they are driven and have a strong vision and intention, they often:

1. Don’t listen to those around them or themselves – or listen at the crux point of the decision.
2. Don’t have the right people around them.
3. Want to keep going until the crux point because they care and dare.

To be open means to be vulnerable and you may be surprised that you do this already. It’s asking questions, and being open to responses and feedback (including criticism). It’s being curious because you care, you’re interested and you want more and better for the future. It’s holding back the judgement and doing what’s right with what you know.

This can then lead to a disruption. Because you are doing something different from the former leadership.

Whilst people want more caring and daring leaders, they are also scared of what that means. But it doesn’t come out as scared, it comes out as our ancestral call to fight or flight. You are disrupting the norm of thinking. You are holding people and organisations accountable to their values, mission, vision, themselves. Yet not everyone likes you to hold the mirror up in front of them.

The world is polarising.

People want change, as long as it doesn’t disrupt their normal way of living. They want better, as long as they can carry on with their normal way of living.

People want the change to stop. The way it was. To not hurt. To grow. To be successful. To make a change.

And yes I’m polarising.

There’s always one side, and the other. And there are also people in the middle. The people that are curious and excited, quiet, supportive, interested, and will support you.

And there is a reason and a golden thread to why you do what you do.

If you want to understand that golden thread a bit more, move from care to dare. To put on your courageous shoes, wear your heart with pride, and take what you know to build, create and shape futures, start here.

Then, write down how you feel.

With all of this knowledge, what difference does that make?

You can put on your courageous shoes, hold your courageous heart, and bring your courageous thoughts to the fore – and before you get to the crux point, build your tribe.

And if you are unsure about your tribe, they will be your strongest supporters, your allies, and the people that will call you out and be your thinking partner.