There’s a seemingly endless stream of leadership books out there, but The Art of Badassery, a book nominally about martial arts, might not immediately make it to the top of your mind. Let us encourage you to bump it up your reading list – because it actually has a lot to teach us about leadership.

One of my favorite encounters from a recent SMPS conference was hearing Jennifer Cassetta, author of The Art of Badassery, as the lunch keynote speaker the second day of the conference. Her book, which describes how to “unleash your mojo with the wisdom of the dojo” uses her experience in martial arts as a metaphor and organizing principle for the journey to unleashing your "inner badass". I don’t do martial arts, but I have seen it build confidence, strength and empower people I know, and so I was willing to embrace the somewhat silly metaphor for the next hour. Each of the steps – aligned with belt levels – is designed to help you reclaim your power, get back up with gusto, and become your own superhero.

Jennifer’s Path to Unleash Your Badass:

• White Belt: Embrace the Suck

• Yellow Belt: Bounce Back

• Orange Belt: Block the BS

• Green Belt: Find Your Roar

• Blue Belt: Elevate Your Energy

• Red Belt: Connect with Your Warrior Within

• Black Belt: Take the Lead

I’ll let you read the book to dig into each of these steps and activate you inner badass, but I’ll expand a bit on the black belt – because here at PointNorth – this is what we are about, leadership.

What the Black Belt of Leadership Looks Like

Leadership looks different for everyone, we all have our own styles, and our individual areas where we feel called to lead, and it can vary in capacity or visibility. But what the author defines a badass leader is someone who is impacting others and this world in a positive way – by sharing your gifts to help others rise. She details what taking a stand looks like and how to find a cause or an issue that speaks to you, then how to find your “give”. Everyone has something to give - time, talent, treasure.

How do you find your stance? Look to our passions. What ignites your strongest feelings?

Then, you look for what you can offer in order to advance your stance.

Finally, Jennifer shares a key element of badass leadership. Leadership involves a higher level of both responsibility and accountability. As leaders in any area of our lives we need to constantly be checking in with ourselves to make sure our intentions, words, and actions are in alignment. And when they aren’t, we have to own it, learn from it, and do better.