Day before Yesterday we outlined three types of everyday courage, and how to develop them. Here are three more types of courage you can practice daily—especially when the stakes are high. 

Intellectual courage: Question your own thinking. Model rethinking by saying, “Here’s my logic—what might I be missing?” Invite critique to normalize learning and adaptation. Don’t tie your identity to old strategies and ideas. Celebrate moments when you’re proven wrong with the same energy as when you’re right. 

Creative courage: Back bold ideas. Creativity requires risk. Reframe failure as data by running low-stakes tests or pilots. Encourage your team with exercises like “bad idea” drills to unlock unconventional thinking. Then ask, “What did we learn?”—not just, “Did it work?” 

Physical courage: Show up when it’s hard. Your presence matters. Spend unscripted facetime with frontline teams, especially during tough moments. Instead of delegating discomfort, walk into it. Treat in-person visits as mutual learning labs, not performative gestures.

Adapted from 6 Ways to Practice Everyday Courage by Alex Budak

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