If You’re Not Taking Risks, You’re Not Leading

Let’s talk about real leadership for a minute, shall we? Not the puffed-up title you slap on a LinkedIn profile or the corner office with the door that actually closes. I mean the kind of leadership that forces you to look discomfort in the face, grit your teeth, and wade right in. The type that isn’t about comfort or certainty. It’s about saying, “Here’s the line—I’m crossing it,” because you know that real change never comes from sitting pretty.

And here’s the thing about crossing that line: It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and often downright terrifying. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that the ones who make waves are the ones who ditch comfort like an old sweater. Think about MLK, Malcolm X, and Ella Baker. They didn’t toe the line or play nice with the status quo; they pushed, hard, at systems designed to keep them quiet. And that’s leadership—not maintenance, but demolition.

But let’s not romanticize it: taking risks doesn’t feel like some heroic leap in a movie. It feels like you’re two seconds from free-fall, stomach dropping out. It’s messy, uncomfortable, the whole bit. And let’s be clear: anyone out there calling themselves a leader and playing it safe? They’re managing, not leading. Safety in a world that’s so far from just or equal is just another way of saying, “I’m fine with how things are.”

I’ll tell you, the leaders who matter, the ones who leave a mark, are the ones willing to walk straight into the fire, not to prove a point, but because they know the alternative is worse. Today’s climate activists, the Black Lives Matter movement—they’re not inching along the path of least resistance. They’re out there, risking comfort, risking safety, because they know that to do otherwise is to play dead.

But maybe you’re thinking, “That’s all well and good for someone else.” Maybe you’re waiting for all the lights to turn green, for a moment that feels “right.” Here’s a tip: that moment? It’s not coming. If you’re sitting comfortably, if you’re not in the thick of it, ask yourself if you’re really leading or just tidying up around the chaos.

Because here’s the bottom line: If you’re not willing to risk it, to step into the mess and the discomfort, then, my friend, you’re not leading. Leadership isn’t polite or neat—it’s stepping forward when no one else will. It’s about seeing the uncertainty ahead and going anyway, knowing that safe has never saved us and never will.

So, are you ready to ditch the comfort blanket? To lead for real? Reach out, and let’s talk about taking your vision from "good intentions" to "unstoppable force." It won’t be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. Let’s get uncomfortable together.

Ready to lead boldly? If you're done waiting for the "right moment" and want to turn your vision into something unshakable, let’s talk. Reach out to set up a Fit Call or stay in touch by signing up for our newsletter, and together we’ll map out a path that goes beyond safe steps and dives straight into impact. The world needs leaders who won’t settle—let's make sure you're one of them.