The Admiration Equation of Brave Leadership
Post 5 of Brave Leadership: From the Emotion of Courage to the Identity of Bravery
You don’t have to be perfect.
You have to be real, good, and grounded.
Admiration Is the Quiet Force of Leadership
Brave leaders don’t demand loyalty.
They earn admiration—not through performance, but through presence.
Admiration is what happens when people feel:
Safe enough to trust you
Seen enough to be changed by you
Moved enough to tell others about you
And here’s the surprise:
It doesn’t come from charisma.
It comes from usefulness, flourishing, and emotional resonance over time.
The Admiration Equation
When you consistently:
Deliver high-value Utilities (Usefulness)
Foster PERMAH experiences (Flourishing)
Create positive, multi-sensory Micro-Moments
You trigger what psychology calls “other-praising emotions”—the emotional foundation of Admiration:
Brave Leaders Don’t Perform. They Practice.
Let’s break down how each element of the Admiration Equation is cultivated:
1. Skill
You consistently do things well—even under pressure.
This doesn’t mean you never mess up.
It means you show competence and humility in your craft.
You practice. You study. You care about the work.
You deliver—and when you don’t, you make it right.
2. Goodness
You align your power with compassion.
You listen.
You stand up for others even when it costs you.
You don’t use truth to shame, or authority to dominate.
You act like a human because you are one.
And you let others be too.
3. Awe
You surprise others with how much heart you bring.
You say what no one else will—but with grace.
You apologize first.
You go above and beyond in ways people don’t forget.
Awe doesn’t require drama. It requires depth.
4. Gratitude
You show up when it matters most.
Not just when it’s convenient.
Not when it’s trending.
You’re the reason someone felt hope again.
The person someone tells a story about later and says, “That moment changed something for me.”
Why This Matters
Admiration isn’t about ego.
It’s about energy.
When people admire you, they:
Extend grace
Mirror your values
Follow your lead—even when it’s hard
Retell your story—and carry it forward
Admiration is the emotional ROI of brave leadership.
Not because you asked for it.
Because you earned it—through service, presence, and truth.
Reflection Prompt
Who have you admired most in your life—and why?
Which element of the Admiration Equation do you embody most often?
Which one are you still learning to live into?
NEXT - The Prospect of Loss: Why Bravery Feels So Costly
