What does it take to be a brave leader in today’s world?

A world where societal norms (kindness, charity, community, respect, and justice) are being eroded? How do we hold our nerve and stay true to our values when truth and morality hold less currency than ever? When they go low, how do we always (always, always) stay high?

Brave leadership is needed now more than ever. I wanted to unpack this topic to deeply understand what it takes to be a brave leader in today’s world, and how to show up in times of turmoil. I had the immense privilege of sitting down with five leaders who have led countries, courtrooms and commissions without bending on their values or their commitment to justice. From negotiating peace deals, to advocating against apartheid, prosecuting war crimes, and tackling taboo topics like drug policy reform – these leaders have so much wisdom to share that the leaders of today need to hear. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my interviews with members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy: Juan Manuel Santos, Ruth Dreifuss, Louise Arbour, Kgalema Motlanthe and Helen Clark. Please do follow along, share them, and reflect upon what you hear.

Brave leadership is rarely comfortable. In fact, the moments that matter most are often the ones where doing the right thing comes at a personal cost.

Juan Manuel Santos – the former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize laureate knows this best. He shared so much wisdom with me on how to make difficult decisions, work with your adversaries instead of against them, and pursue peace above all else.

When I asked President Santos what he was most proud of, his answer was so telling. It wasn’t about the accolades or titles. It was about the lives he changed for the better. For him, that is the true purpose of leadership, and it’s one that deeply resonates with me. At Virgin, our purpose is changing business for good. Leadership, wherever it sits, should ultimately improve people’s lives.

His bravest decision came when he chose to pursue peace after being elected on a reputation as a war hero. Ending Colombia’s 50-year civil war meant negotiating with former enemies, losing political capital, and facing fierce opposition even from those closest to him. As Santos told me:

“Do what you think is right, even if it’s unpopular.”

One insight stayed with me: making peace is far harder than making war. War demands command and control. Peace demands empathy, persuasion and trust. It requires leaders to see adversaries not as enemies, but as human beings with fears, families and frustrations of their own.

That mindset shaped not only Colombia’s peace process, but President Santos’ continued work on issues like drug policy reform, where he continues to challenge failed, hardline thinking in favour of evidence, compassion and dignity.

Brave leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the courage to do what is right, even if it’s unpopular.

And in today’s world, we need that kind of leadership more than ever.

Stay tuned for the rest of the series.

Extracted from the original article on Virgin.com