Ep81: Fearless Leadership

"Fear is to the human being what gravity is to the planet. It is a force "

"Most ski instructors, even though they're excellent, extraordinary skiers, they may not be the best instructors. Because they say let me show you how to do it. Now you just do what I did. Well, if people could do that, that easily, they wouldn't need the instructor and that and that plays out into so many types of training, even into business."

01:11 Fear
04:06 Three step process
07:25 Fear vs Love
08:48 Fear Expert
11:45 Do it my way
13:14 Fear as a motivator
15:33 Relying on Senses
19:07 Fear failure
20:49 Culture


The greatest barrier to health, wealth and happiness is fear. Personal, professional and organizational choices or decisions are typically made from a place of fear. Stress, anxiety, dread, panic, shame, even the aversion to work, are just a few of the manifestations of fear. Why isn't this addressed? Because we’re afraid. Fear isn’t our friend – but it could be?

Innovative leaders need to be fearless. I help executives evolve above a fear-based existence by developing the ability to face, embrace and ultimately befriend fears that defeat lesser teams.

Barry Moniak is a fear expert. My vocation is Trusted Advisory Consultant. My avocation is Certified Ski Instructor. Both require the integration of a fearless mindset and skillset – literally having to befriend what at times we fear most.

As a national business leader, I transformed a 97% attrition rate of newly hired salespeople into a 97% close rate in the first month. Today, my clients achieve the same kind of results by getting their teams to befriend fear just as expert skiers befriend black diamond slopes. They literally transform the energy of fear into innovation, inspiration, motivation and momentum.

My approach to fearless leadership consulting, therefore, is to disrupt the status quo and foster a fearless culture. I get mindful leaders to develop an eagerness to face, embrace and befriend their fears. It takes courage for executives to address their own fears, but when they do, it exponentially enhances their capacity to help their teams do the same.

When we understand who our people are, what they're afraid of, and why they function as they do under pressure, we know how each needs to be led.