Everyday Courage
- Cristina Stensvaag
- Dec 4, 2025
- 2 min read
We’re stepping into Courage & Vulnerability, inspired by Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead. Her work is a powerful reminder that courage isn’t reserved for big, dramatic moments. It’s something we practice in our everyday leadership.
December 4, 2025
Originally published in One More Rep, our weekly leadership newsletter. 👉 Subscribe here
Courage isn’t a one-time event, or something that only happens in big moments. It’s a daily practice. Pay attention to how courage shows up in your days.
Read
In Dare to Lead, Brené Brown writes about how trust and courage show up most often in ordinary, everyday interactions. People don’t experience our leadership in sweeping gestures. They experience it in how we show up day-to-day.
This can look like:
Following through because you said you would.
Asking a question and actually listening.
Owning a mistake instead of glossing past it.
Showing up fully even when you’d rather retreat.
These aren’t grand acts, but they shape how people experience you. They influence whether others feel safe being honest, whether they trust your word, and whether they believe you’ll show up when it matters.
Courage isn’t something we tap into once in a while. It’s something we practice in moments, in choices, in conversations, even (and especially) when it feels uncomfortable.
Rep
Choose an intentional act of courage each day.
Try one of these:
Name a miss: “I dropped the ball on this. Here’s what I’m doing to fix it.”
Slow down: Ask someone, “What else is on your mind?” and really listen.
Follow through: Do one thing you promised, even if it’s small, and close the loop.
Show appreciation: Name something specific someone did that mattered.
Be honest: Share one thing you’re working on improving.
Consistency builds trust. Presence builds connection. Courage builds both.
Reflect
Where did courage show up for me this week?
Which moment required me to choose courage, even though it was uncomfortable?
When did I choose honesty instead of convenience?
What decision or action had a bigger impact than I expected?
Where do I want to practice courage more intentionally?
