“Hey, Christina. At our meeting this week, we will be discussing bold leadership. We were wondering if you would be able to give a brief speech on this topic reflecting on your college career?”

I was asked this question a few weeks before I became a college graduate. Easy, right? After four years, I would be handing out nuggets of wisdom like nobody’s business. As soon as I got off the phone, I sat down in front of my computer to begin organizing my thoughts. In order to get my creative juices flowing, I jotted down keywords hoping to develop some intersection of ideas. So I sat down and typed BOLD LEADERSHIP at the top, ready to feel inspired. But, after a couple of minutes went by, I was still staring at a page as blank as my mind. This was a lot harder than I originally thought.

What is Bold Leadership?

Bold leadership is difficult to define because everyone is a different leader with a unique style, pulling from a vast variety of experiences. This kind of leadership isn’t easily put into words and I think that’s because bold leadership isn’t about what is said. At it’s core, bold leadership is about movement, about action. This kind of leadership pushes our comfort zones and challenges us at our very core.

Can you give me an example?

I thought you’d never ask! Have you ever heard the quote, “Dance like no one’s watching?” Well, the man in this video perfectly embodies this quote. He is confidently dancing at a music festival all by himself. As the video continues, one person joins and then another. By the end, throngs of people are running to join the epic dance party!

It may seem like a silly example, but this video actually shows that it takes a lot to be bold! You may even feel like sometimes you stand alone. But, if you are willing to take that chance, there is also a chance that others will be inspired to follow you. And it takes just as much courage and strength to be that first follower as it does to be the leader. When that happens, incredible things are possible…watch to see what I mean!

So, who are bold leaders?

BOLD leaders are BOLD people, but more importantly, they are people who are shamelessly authentic and confident in the direction they are going. When I think about myself, I don’t know if I could do what the dancing man did. But, that doesn’t make me any less bold! I just choose to make an impact in a way that aligns with my truest self.

Bold leadership isn’t always popular, but bold leaders never cease to dream big and set large goals, regardless of popular opinion. Bold leaders are those who are willing to take risks and seek to move at a faster pace than their peers. They are constantly seeking feedback and searching for ways to improve themselves, their followers, or their situation.

We all possess these qualities and are capable of being bold. Bold leadership is like a chain reaction. You are the original link: confident and steadfast. You are the catalyst that can recognize an individual’s strength and potential. As you add more links to your chain, you can empower others to build themselves, their organizations, their company, and their schools; creating an endless and growing chain. All you need to do is take that first step!

*Leadership Lesson*

If you are wondering how you can lead more boldly, here are a few questions for you to reflect on:
How can I leave this ______ (job, company, classroom, organization, etc) a better place than when I started?
Is there anything that I have seen, that I can actively evolve for the betterment of this ________ (job, company, classroom or organization, etc)?
Am I empowering others to feel equipped to do their jobs/ fulfill their roles?
What impression do I want to leave with the individuals around me?
What goals do I believe I can set to be higher, but attainable?

*Meet the Author*

Christina Newcomb is from Reno, Nevada and recently graduated from The University of Oklahoma, (Boomer Sooner!) with a B.A. in Journalism. She spent a lot of time during her college career, investing in university organizations and the people that filled them. She also enjoys corny jokes, writing about herself in third person and has never met a chocolate bar she didn’t like.