Are you afraid?
That line appears throughout a promo for the new HBO series Lanterns from DC Studios.
As described in entertainment industry magazine, The Wrap, that question sets up the dichotomy between courage and fear. “… The true ability of a Green Lantern is not being fearless, but being able to overcome great fear.”
Fear is real
Anyone who tells you they are not in fear of combat – and there’s plenty in this series – is either a fool or an idiot.
And it’s not just combat but all kinds of danger, physical and mental.
Fear is a natural response to danger. We humans are wired to feel fear as a form of self-protection, the ability to shield ourselves from danger.
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the management of it. As leaders from Franklin Roosevelt to John McCain have stated.
We want our leaders to recognize danger. We want them to feel fear, and more importantly, recognize that those they lead are feeling it, too.
Action steps
The challenge for leaders is not to crumble, but to address it head-on.
- Acknowledge fear as a normal reaction to stress.
- Be open about the challenges and reveal the obstacles.
- Be available to listen, learn and engage.
One last point: a heartening part of the Lanterns promo is that it sends a positive message to young people, their key viewer demographic.
To fear is to be human; to overcome it requires resourcefulness and bravery.