High Performance Culture Can't Be Faked: A 4-part series on how leaders can rally from the recent Gallup results (Article 4 of 4)
For years, leaders have been asking: How do we create a culture where employees feel empowered, take initiative, and push boundaries? The answer: Courage.
Yet, according to Gallup, only 30% of employees strongly agree that someone at work encourages their development—a decline of almost 20% since 2020. That means 70% of your workforce may be playing it safe, hesitating to innovate, and being held back from reaching their full potential. And that’s a leadership problem, not an employee problem.
A culture of courage isn’t about reckless risk-taking. It’s about fostering an environment where employees feel safe to:
Challenge the status quo
Share new ideas (without fear of failure or being reprimanded)
Take ownership of their growth and development
Without it, you get stagnation. Employees stop stretching themselves, innovation grinds to a halt, and top talent looks elsewhere for opportunities to grow. The best leaders don’t just tolerate courage; they actively cultivate it.
The Cost of Playing It Safe:
When employees don’t feel encouraged to develop, the consequences are massive:
Disengagement skyrockets – Why push boundaries when no one supports your growth?
Turnover increases – Ambitious employees won’t stay where they don’t see a future.
Innovation stalls – No courage? No fresh ideas. No competitive edge.
How Leaders Can Build a Culture of Courage:
Reward Smart Risks - If employees fear failure, they’ll avoid challenges. Celebrate experimentation, even when it doesn’t go perfectly. Failure is a lesson, not a liability.
Model the Mindset - Leaders set the tone. If you aren’t stepping outside your comfort zone, your team won’t either. Share your learning moments, your missteps, and how you push yourself to grow.
Make Development Non-Negotiable - Growth shouldn’t be a luxury—it should be an expectation. Whether it’s mentorship, upskilling programs, or cross-functional projects, give employees the tools and opportunities to level up.
Organizations that prioritize courage don’t just survive; they thrive. They create engaged, high-performing teams that drive creativity and push the business forward. The question isn’t whether you need a culture of courage—it’s whether you’re willing to build one.
Building a culture of courage isn’t an overnight transformation—it’s a continuous effort that starts at the top. When leaders commit to creating an environment where employees feel safe to take risks, challenge norms, and grow, the entire organization reaps the benefits.
Watch this video on building a high-performance culture, highlighting the courage required for leadership training and development.