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CHAPTER EIGHT

Courage

‘‘Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you

live among scorpions.’’

—E. 2:6

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terri-

fied, do not be discouraged.’’

—J. 1:9

oshua, Jack Welch, and the Cowardly Lion fromThe Wizard
of Ozmay appear to be an unlikely trio, but each in his own
way recognized the value of courage. Time and again,
Joshua exhibited this trait as he knocked down seemingly
impregnable walls and led the Hebrews into battle against seemingly
insurmountable odds. Welch, who spent a large portion of his time
developing leaders at GE’s Management Development Center in Cro-
tonville, New York, worked with many technically adept candidates for
top management. He noted that what separated a manager from a leader
was ‘‘the instinct and courage to make the tough calls—decisively, but
with fairness and absolute integrity.’’
The Cowardly Lion is another story. He started out as a nonleader
with no purpose and a ferocious demeanor that hid a total lack of cour-
age. When the members of the ‘‘Oz Team’’ come upon the lion, he is

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