The complexity of our world can paralyse even the most committed individuals in their efforts to bring about social change. But being an agent of change does not mean we have to start a revolution-it can be done in small ways, wherever and whenever. This book starts from the premise that, to transform society, we first need to transform ourselves. It provides a matrix for examining one's relationship to life, self, the world, and society in order to become effective leaders. Each of these relationships is broken down further to present twelve leadership 'stances' with which to face the world. The stances enable the reader to look both inward - to understand with greater clarity one's life experiences and habits - and outward - to actively decide to change one's way of behaving in the world. Grounded in nearly fifty years of the Institute of Cultural Affairs' in-depth research and practical experience in over thirty nations, The Courage to Lead draws from the lived experience of leadership in many different situations: personal, family, work, organisation, community. Describing the internal landscape and external style needed for people to seriously engage in social change, and illustrated by a multitude of engaging activist anecdotes from around the world, the book is readily accessible to a wide range of readers and will appeal especially to students of social change.