From Usefulness to Flourishing: Why Utility Isn’t Enough
Post 3 of Brave Leadership: From the Emotion of Courage to the Identity of Bravery
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Brave leaders don’t just meet needs. They transform lives.
Usefulness Is the First Step
Let’s be clear: meeting needs matters.
When leaders show up with availability, security, clarity, closure—they create stability.
That’s no small thing in a world where chaos is monetized and dysfunction is normalized.
But usefulness alone won’t build loyalty.
It won’t ignite imagination.
And it won’t sustain people through hardship.
For that, we need something deeper.
Something human.
We need flourishing.
PERMAH: The Psychology of Flourishing
Brave leadership doesn’t stop at meeting expectations.
It creates experiences that help people:
Feel something positive
Engage with purpose
Form meaningful relationships
Find significance in the struggle
Grow, succeed, and become more
Heal emotionally and stay well physically
This is PERMAH—a framework from positive psychology that maps what humans need in order to flourish:
The Link Between Utility and Flourishing
Each of the 12 Utilities—when delivered with care—sets the stage for PERMAH.
Brave leaders know: systems that only deliver usefulness will always fall short.
They might feel efficient—but not inspiring.
Reliable—but not transformational.
Brave Leaders Create Micro-Moments of Meaning
A brave leader doesn’t just fix problems.
They create moments:
A pause that becomes a turning point
A phrase that redefines someone’s worth
A thank you that lands like healing
A challenge that sparks identity growth
These aren’t always dramatic.
They’re often quiet—but they leave echoes.
Brave leaders build the conditions where people want to rise—not because they were forced to, but because they were seen, held, and challenged.
That’s the Shift
From stabilizer → to builder of belief
From manager of function → to cultivator of flourishing
From usefulness → to unforgettable
Reflection
Where do you deliver usefulness but stop short of flourishing?
When was the last time someone gave you a micro-moment that changed how you saw yourself?
What would it look like to design your leadership around PERMAH, not just performance?
NEXT - The PERMAH Effect: How Brave Leaders Help Others Flourish
