The Courage to Show Up – Leading in the Face of Fear and Resistance
Theme: “Leadership is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to act despite it.”
Module Overview
Courage is not about being fearless. It’s about doing what matters even when you're scared, uncertain, or unprepared.
In Module 5, we dive into the heart of real leadership, the courage to show up when it's uncomfortable, unpopular, or inconvenient. Whether you're pitching a bold financial literacy idea, confronting school leaders, or rallying unmotivated peers, your ability to persist despite resistance is what sets you apart.
This module is designed to help you identify your fears, understand how resistance shows up, and equip you with mental tools and habits that strengthen your courage and conviction as a leader.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, fellows will:
- Identify personal fears that hinder leadership growth.
- Understand how fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome manifest in leadership.
- Learn techniques to build emotional resilience and grit.
- Develop a personal courage manifesto.
- Practice showing up with authenticity and conviction in tough situations.
1. The Hidden Fears of Emerging Leaders
Everyone wants to lead until leadership demands visibility, vulnerability, and rejection.
Common hidden fears among young leaders include:
- Fear of judgment: “What if they laugh at my idea?”
- Fear of failure: “What if I mess up and everyone sees it?”
- Fear of success: “What if I succeed and I’m not ready for what comes next?”
- Fear of being seen: “What if I speak and no one listens?”
The most dangerous fear is the one you pretend doesn’t exist. As a leader, your first task is to name your fear. Once you do, it loses its power.
✍️ Self-Reflection Exercise:
Write down 3 fears that make you hesitate when it comes to leading a financial literacy project in your school, community, or online.
2. Resistance is a Sign You're On to Something
When you step into your calling, expect pushback. Resistance may come from:
- Family: “Why are you wasting time on this money talk?”
- Teachers or gatekeepers: “You’re too young. Leave it to adults.”
- Peers: “Who do you think you are?”
- Internal dialogue: “Maybe I’m not good enough.”
🔔 Key Insight:
Resistance is not a signal to stop. It’s often a sign you’re doing work that matters.
3. Impostor Syndrome and the Fraud Within
Impostor Syndrome is the inner voice that says:
“You’re not a real leader. They’re going to find out you’re faking it.”
Nearly every leader experiences it, especially women, youth, and those from marginalized communities.
🌱 Reframe It:
Instead of seeing impostor feelings as a warning, see them as evidence that you’re growing.
🧩 Group Activity:
Share a moment you felt like a fraud, then listen to 2–3 others. Notice how you admire in them what they struggle to believe about themselves.
4. Building Your Courage Muscles
Courage is not something you’re born with. It’s something you build.
Here are 5 ways to grow your courage muscle:
a. Act Before You Feel Ready
Waiting to feel “ready” is a trap. Action creates readiness.
🔥 Practice: Pitch your project idea this week to one person you’re afraid to approach a teacher, local business leader, or social media influencer.
b. Take Micro-Brave Steps
Don’t start with a stadium. Start with a room. Then a hallway. Then a corridor. Then a community hall. Then a school assembly.
Small acts of bravery, done consistently, lead to massive inner confidence.
c. Use the 20-Second Rule
Research shows that it only takes 20 seconds of insane courage to change your life. Use that window to:
- Raise your hand.
- Ask a mentor to support your project.
- Submit your application to speak at an event.
d. Visualize Rejection and Prepare for It
Don’t fear rejection, rehearse it.
- What’s the worst that could happen?
- What’s your response if it does?
- Who will you call if you need a confidence reset?
e. Develop a Courage Circle
Surround yourself with 3–5 people who challenge you to show up. Let them call you out with love when fear holds you back.
5. The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership
Brené Brown, a leading researcher on courage, says:
“You can’t get to courage without walking through vulnerability.”
Vulnerability means:
- Admitting you don’t know all the answers.
- Sharing your real story, not just your polished image.
- Saying “I need help” when you're overwhelmed.
Vulnerability is not weakness. It’s the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and connection.
✍️ Journal Prompt:
What’s one truth about your journey with money, school, or leadership that you’ve been scared to share publicly? Why might sharing it help someone else?
6. When Leadership is Lonely
Courage doesn’t always look like standing tall. Sometimes, it looks like:
- Making an unpopular decision.
- Saying no to mediocrity.
- Walking away from a toxic friend group.
- Doing the right thing even when no one claps.
⚠️ Warning:
There will be days when you feel alone. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re leading.
7. Real-World Leadership Scenarios: Courage in Action
Scenario 1: The Hostile Principal
You pitch your financial literacy club idea to a principal, and they say:
“We’re too busy. Who even sent you?”
Do you give up or find another way in?
- Reframe rejection as feedback.
- Ask for a 5-minute follow-up meeting.
- Offer to run a 1-time session before requesting a full club.
Scenario 2: The Disengaged Team
You start a team. Everyone's excited the first week. By week three, half the group stops showing up.
Do you panic? Or pivot?
- Call a team meeting. Ask for honest feedback.
- Remind everyone of the mission.
- Refresh team roles based on interest.
Scenario 3: Public Failure
Your first financial literacy session had 5 attendees, not the 50 you expected. Your friends tease you.
Do you cancel your next session? Or double down?
Remember:
Great leaders are built in empty rooms—not full stadiums.
8. The Courage Manifesto
Write your Courage Manifesto, a short declaration of who you are as a leader, and how you choose to show up even when afraid.
✍️ Template:
I am a courageous leader.
I may feel afraid, but I will not shrink.
I speak even when my voice shakes.
I show up even when the room is empty.
I fight for financial literacy because it matters.
I know I will make mistakes, but I will grow from them.
I am not here to impress. I am here to impact.
And I will not quit because someone needs what I carry.
Encourage fellows to personalize it, print it, and post it in their room.
9. Activity Assignments
✅ Activity 1: Fear-to-Courage Transformation
- List 3 fears holding you back in your leadership journey.
- For each, write a “Courage Response.”
- Fear: “I’m afraid I’ll look stupid if no one comes.”
- Response: “Even if one person shows up, I’ll teach them like they’re a crowd of 1,000.”
✅ Activity 2: Courage Challenge of the Week
- Do ONE thing this week that scares you in your leadership journey.
- Host a live session.
- Post your story on social media.
- Email a potential sponsor or mentor.
- Ask to speak at a school or youth club.
Document it and share with your pod group.
10. Courage Case Study Reflection
Case: “How a 16-Year-Old in Kano Started a Financial Literacy Club with No Money and No Support”
Use this case to reflect on:
- What risks did the young person take?
- How did they overcome fear or rejection?
- What was the turning point in their journey?
Group discussion will follow.
Final Reflection Prompt:
What would your life, school, or community look like if you stopped letting fear drive your decisions for the next 12 months?
Quote of the Week:
“Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.” – Eddie Rickenbacker
Module Outcome
By the end of Module 5, fellows will:
- Recognize and name their personal fears.
- Build practical courage habits for real-life leadership.
- Reframe failure and rejection as stepping stones.
- Take at least one brave step toward their project or vision.
- Write and live by a personal Courage Manifesto.
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