Leadership is not always comfortable; leading change requires stepping outside of our comfort zones. Courageous leadership is about consistently opening yourself up to be vulnerable, working through that discomfort and acting when you may not have all the answers. Courageous leadership, and leadership in general, should not be about the intensity of the moment that will eventually fade. It is through this process of consistency that you foster a deep trust and devotion between yourself and those who support you. Simon highlighted that it is your supportive connections that give you the confidence and the encouragement to take courageous leaps of faith. When you know you have the devotion and support of people who will back you up and they trust your decisions, you act and lead in a different way than if you do not have that support, devotion, and trust.

Now imagine you have an entire network of organizations to back you up. You have an entire network of partners that support the mission, is devoted to the goals and stated outcomes of the system, and trusts that the objectives laid out can be successfully achieved. That level of support not only enables the network to become a courageous leader within the community, but also gives each organization the encouragement of their network partners when they need to lean on them. This inspires change, learning, and growth within your organization, your network, and ultimately your community as a whole.