The Times Call For Bold Leadership
Updated: Mar 19, 2024
Written by: Zana Goic Petricevic, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
There’s never been a better time than now to start being bolder in our leadership. The worldwide pandemic has shifted the future of work in organizations, from new working conditions to complete restructuring. On top of that, we’re grappling with rapidly changing technology, calling us to develop new skills and change the way we communicate and work with others. And to top it all off, there’s the climate crisis we’re in, which demands innovation and immediate action in the midst of chaos.
Our world is rapidly changing and our leadership must adapt to keep up the pace. We can’t afford to wait for someone else to show up so we can follow. We must step up and lead the way every chance we get if we want the world we imagine to become reality.
"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." ‒ Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder
What is BOLD leadership? More than a skill, bold leadership is a way of being. But being bold might not mean what you think. The new boldness is about being courageous in our relationships, practicing, failing often and learning to dance with fear.
Innovation is on the other side of big risk and bold leaders must get skin in the game. They must trust their vision and know that the only way to bring it to life is to become the kind of person that is willing to risk the status quo, even when the results are uncertain. It’s easy to have an innovative idea, but it takes an unbelievable amount of courage to see it through.
In my book Bold Reinvented, I bring leaders on a journey through the SOUL framework. SOUL stands for self, other, universe and legacy. From this four-step process you will emerge a bold leader ready to take on this fast changing world. Forget leadership skills, tools and theory and prepare to get your feet wet and find out if you are bold enough to live your purpose and bring your vision to life.
First stop, The Self. If we don’t fully understand who we are and how others see us, how can we possibly grow to become the kind of person who’s willingly going to take fear’s hand and walk into the unknown? This first corner of the framework is all about clarifying who you are, why you are here, what lights you up and what your current impact is on others (whether it is intended or not).
Once we’ve got a full grasp on ourselves, we delve into the nature of our relationships with others. We get ready to hear feedback, to clear assumptions, understand how others see us and learn to truly listen. In this corner, we fundamentally change the way we see relationships and people. We learn to trust that each person brings value and is *naturally creative, resourceful and whole. We practice trust by leaning on others and asking them for help. Bold leaders know that alone we go fast, but together we go further.
The next stop on our journey is called “Universe” and directs us to a bigger, bolder view of leadership. We open ourselves up from “I want” to “I offer.” We examine our life purpose and vision, and question how we can transform our self-serving goals into collectively serving ones. Leadership is no longer a matter of ego and power. It’s a matter of service. How can we use our gifts and abilities to contribute to a better world and be an example for others to do the same?
These questions bring us to the last corner of the SOUL framework: Legacy. Once leaders have become who they need to be to take the risk of a meaningful life, when they have grounded their relationships and clarified what the world needs, the only thing left to do is to dream about the legacy they want to leave behind. When we think of building a legacy, we don’t settle for crumbs. Leaders understand that their vision is worth the risk and they trust that they are never alone on their journey.
Don’t take the framework lightly. It’s not a process you can go through without sitting in the fire. BOLD leadership is on the other side of your willingness to change and put skin in the game. To be ready to hear the truth, fail a lot, dance with fear, embrace flexibility, trust the process and know that you always have yourself to fall back on.
Zana Goic Petricevic, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Zana brings to her work a blend of more than 15 years’ experience as a corporate manager, entrepreneur, executive leadership coach, leadership development consultant, keynote speaker, coaching trainer and mentor with a great passion for writing, teaching and public speaking.
Zana believes in the transformative power of bigger, bolder conversations, which is why these conversations are the essence of her work today with executives and C-suite leaders. She says that bold leaders have a sixth sense of speech and are responsible for opening bolder conversations in their organisations in service of change.
Zana has worked as a coach, consultant, author and speaker, with clients across the globe based in EU, UK, US, and APJC region helping them to take their personal and organisational leadership to the next, bolder level."
She is the author of Bold Reinvented: Next Level Leading with Courage, Consciousness and Conviction that reached Amazon 1 best seller and 1 new release in 5 categories: Business Mentoring & Coaching, Leadership, Strategic Management, Business Leadership and Business Management.
