Recently Dean Hanniball posted a comment asking, “Since so much of any Quest is about getting started I’d be curious about your thoughts on bold leadership.” 

In my experience, bold leadership and the quest are inextricably intertwined.  Bold leaders are much more likely to pursue the quest and, conversely, the quest asks much of leaders, particularly boldness. Bold leaders possess three key qualities:

1. They are attracted to adventure, not to relentlessly seek safety
2. They are not restricted by convention
3. They seek out the new and daring; they take risks

Only bold leaders initiate quests.  The initiatory action is sounding the Call to Adventure.  That Call to Adventure interrupts that status quo and asks the organization to head into unexplored territory.  The explorer, Ernest Shackleton’s, famous classified ad in the London Times comes to mind:

Wanted: People to undertake hazardous journey — small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful; honor and recognition in case of success.

An estimated 5,000 people showed up on a London dock to sign up for his adventure.

Or, think of JFK’s famous address:

I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.

JFK’s call changed the course of a nation.  That is what bold leaders do.

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