Self-Belief Lessons for Young Leaders from Joan of Arc

A note to young leaders.

To understand the awesome power of self-belief, look no further than to the remarkable example of a medieval, peasant teenager: Joan of Arc.

With no military training, Joan convinced Prince Charles of Valois to allow her to lead a French army to the besieged city of Orléans, where they achieved a stunning victory.

She is, in the words of Mark Twain, “the only person, of either sex, who has ever held supreme command of the military forces of a nation at the age of seventeen.”

Joan’s impact only grew after her death. Burned at the stake as a “heretic” by the English, the French soldiers began to fight – not “with her”, as they once did – but “for her”.

In this way, Joan of Arc turned the tide of the Hundred Years War in favour of the French.

How did a peasant teenager achieve all this? Through fearlessness, born of self-belief.
“I am not afraid; I was born to do this”, was her famous declaration on the battlefield. To believe yourself brave is to be brave.

So, go ahead, believe yourself brave.