How to Cultivate Courage and Live Your Values

Courage, a cardinal virtue in Stoicism, is a trait that can be learned, nurtured, and honed over time. While it may not come naturally to everyone, the potential for growth and development in this area is immense. Embracing courage, even if it feels unfamiliar, holds significant rewards and challenges. I invite you to explore an article that delves into the essence of courage and its transformative power in leadership and professional growth. It's never too late to embark on a journey towards becoming a more courageous and resilient individual. Your thoughts and reflections on this topic are valuable. Feel free to share your insights and perspectives.

Incredible article on #Leadership amid uncertainty, in the current Harvard Business Review by author Ranjay Gulati. And a terrific picture to grab my visual attention #bigcat! As the pace of change and disruption accelerates, #courage - or the lack thereof - can make or break careers, organisations, and society. This article provides Five strategies to drive bold action amid uncertainty. In volatile and uncertain times, many leaders hesitate to act, and others simply freeze up. The question is, Can bravery be acquired? Professor Gulati has done extensive research on the subject and argues that everyone can—and should—learn to be courageous. Risk management helps tamp down fear, of course, but it isn’t enough. By studying daring CEOs, the author uncovered five specific strategies used by people who demonstrate bravery: (1) They create positive narratives that guide them through chaos, often recasting their work as a moral quest. (2) They build their confidence through training and preparation, by expanding their arsenal of mental tools, and by focusing on what they can control. (3) They size up complex and ambiguous situations step-by-step, adjusting course as their understanding grows. (4) They enlist the help of allies, mentors, and critics. And finally, (5) they help themselves stay calm by practicing self-care, embracing rituals, and reframing situations more positively. Enjoy the article...and sit in a little childhood wonder at the picture! #leadonera https://lnkd.in/gaKzrNHj

This article Ranjay Gulati recently wrote for HBR diving into courageous leadership is a fantastic read for any leader or HR professional (or even just if you are geeky like me and love learning about leadership psychology).   Given the environment leaders and professionals are currently navigating - huge economic pressure, political volatility, and rapid technological change (AI being just one obvious example) - courageous leadership feels particularly important.   What I loved about Gulati's take is that courage, as we typically view it, isn't about taking huge risks and blindly leaping into the unknown - it’s about habits, preparation, and the environments we create for people.   A few insights that feel especially relevant right now: - Courage can be learned. In times of uncertainty, courage isn’t reserved for those it comes naturally to. It’s a capability we can develop through practice and support. - In crisis, people fall back on their training. In tough times, onboarding and leadership development aren’t optional - they’re what shape the instincts that individuals and teams rely on when they are under pressure. - Small steps matter. Leaders who encourage small, intelligent, well-informed risks create the conditions for exploration, innovation and adaptability. -Courage is collective. It's easier to be courageous when you have support from managers, colleagues, mentors, and in cultures that enable psychological safety.   For leaders, managers, and HR/P&C professionals, the takeaway is clear: courageous leadership is about building the skills, confidence, and networks that allow people to act with courage when it matters. https://lnkd.in/g7FnvU99 #leadershippsychology #courageousleadership #ranjaygulati #HBR

Uncertainty is the ultimate test of leadership. In my own work and research, I’ve found that when turbulence hits, employees turn to their leaders for steadiness and direction. But uncertainty weighs on leaders just as much as it does on teams. Some leaders hesitate, some pull back, and others simply wait for the chaos to pass. A recent Harvard Business Review article makes an important point: courage is often what separates leaders and organizations that thrive in disruption from those that falter. And courage, the article suggests, is not an innate trait. It’s something leaders can intentionally build. The piece highlights five ways to strengthen the capacity for brave action: (1) Reframe challenges through constructive narratives (2) Develop deep confidence in skills (3) Experiment with small steps before making big bets (4) Draw strength from allies and mentors (5) Learn to stay calm even when fear is present The lesson is very timely. With more companies than ever citing “uncertainty” in their public communications, leaders need both risk management strategies and the ability to summon courage in moments where outcomes are unknowable. The takeaway resonates with me: bravery in leadership is not about fearlessness. Rather, it is about moving forward with purpose despite the fear. And it’s a capability that all of us can cultivate. #uncertainty #courage #leadership #bravery https://lnkd.in/ehGpVSST

When was the last time you chose courage over caution—and what difference did it make? In Harvard Business Review, Ranjay Gulati makes a compelling case that courage is not innate but learnable. He shows that in uncertain times, leaders who hesitate or retrench often falter, while those who take purposeful, intelligent risks move their organizations forward. I couldn’t agree more. His framing resonates deeply with my own research on strategic agility. In my Five Agilities framework, I argue that leaders must develop five distinct agilities: Analytical Agility: seeing differently—reframing data and assumptions. Operational Agility: reconfiguring rapidly—adjusting processes and resources in real time. Inventive Agility: creating under constraint—finding new solutions when options seem limited. Communicative Agility: shaping narratives—building trust and alignment through story. Visionary Agility: anticipating futures—charting bold, long-term directions. Courage is the catalyst that powers all five. Without it, analytical agility risks becoming rigid, operational agility defensive, inventive agility aimless, communicative agility hollow, and visionary agility abstract. As Gulati reminds us, the real danger is not recklessness but timidity. In a turbulent world, agility without courage is incomplete. I recommend his article for anyone reflecting on the future of leadership: “Now Is the Time for Courage” in 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. https://lnkd.in/ePiTkRT7

Now is the time for courageous leadership!!! "In my research I found that individuals like these develop courage in five ways: They create positive narratives, cultivate confidence, take small steps to boost their comprehension of the challenges they face, make connections, and stay calm, employing a variety of techniques to do each." https://lnkd.in/gsadHKQi

I still remember - The conversation- Heated debates when I presented my Post Doc Desertion. Theme - Executive Failure “ A2A - Aspiration Vs Appropriate Behavior “. Where I argued most executive failures are driven by the lack of context sensitive behavior. This hypothesis of mine holds good after 5 Long years when I read failed stories of CEOs. Appropriate Behavior or Context sesntive behavior is as crucial as anything else , with every failure is just reinforcing the same. As leaders, the true test of our integrity often unfolds in moments of crisis. Recently, Nestlé’s abrupt dismissal of CEO Laurent Freixe for undisclosed personal conduct underscores how even the highest echelons of corporate power are held accountable to ethical standards. Appropriate Behavior lacking . This leadership shake-up is not isolated—top executives across industries have faced similar reckoning amid rising expectations for transparency and governance. From CEOs stepping down over undisclosed relationships to leaders ousted for lapses in ethical judgment, the message is clear: trust and accountability must underpin leadership. How organizations navigate these turbulent waters shapes their culture, investor confidence, and long-term resilience. As I prepare to explore this case in depth, I invite reflection: how do companies balance personal privacy with corporate responsibility? And how can boards lead decisively to protect both reputation and value without compromising humanity? #Leadership #CorporateGovernance #EthicsInBusiness #CEO #Nestlé #Accountability #BusinessIntegrity #LeadershipChallenges London Business School .

In today’s rapidly shifting landscape, courage isn’t just a leadership trait—it’s a necessity. This HBR article by Ranjay Gulati resonated deeply with me as someone passionate about Customer Experience. It explores how bold action, grounded in purpose, can transform uncertainty into opportunity. Whether it’s reframing challenges, empowering teams, or staying calm under pressure, courageous leadership is what enables us to truly show up for our customers. Let's lean into bravery—not just as a response to disruption, but as an accelerator for meaningful impact. #CustomerExperience #CourageousLeadership #EmpoweredTeams

Leadership isn’t just about following - it’s about having the courage to speak up. In every organization, we often encounter “good people.” But let’s be clear: being good doesn’t always mean being right. A kind heart does not make one immune to mistakes - and this is exactly where courageous correction becomes essential. The true test of leadership is the willingness to speak up, to respectfully challenge, and to correct-even when the mistake comes from a well-intentioned peer or a respected leader. Because if we lack the courage to speak, how can we claim the integrity to act rightly? Leadership is not defined by blind compliance. It’s measured by our ability to protect truth - ensuring the sustainability of our teams and the long-term health of our organizations. 1.Healthy correction is not rebellion; it is responsibility. 2.Speaking up is not disloyalty; it is the highest form of loyalty. 3.Courage to speak is the foundation of integrity - and the engine of critical thinking that drives sustainable success. Strong organizations aren’t built by good intentions alone. They thrive because of individuals who have the courage to question, correct, and care deeply enough to uphold what’s right. Let’s build workplaces where truth is valued, voices are heard, and leadership is shared. #Leadership #Integrity #Courage #CriticalThinking #SpeakUp #Sustainability #CEOInsights

“What if I told you the greatest leadership manual was written not in Harvard, but in the limbs of Lord Ganesha?” Kanchi Mahaperiyava once said: “Every limb of Ganesha teaches us how to live, lead, and learn.” Pause there. Think about it. The large ears? They remind leaders to listen more than they speak. The small eyes? Focus, not frenzy. Vision that pierces distraction. The curved trunk? Flexibility in strategy. The ability to lift a needle or uproot a tree. The one tusk? Imperfection is not weakness—it’s authenticity. Even with a broken tusk, you can still write the Mahabharata. The giant belly? The capacity to absorb—praise, insult, chaos—and still move forward with grace. Now ask yourself: how many organizations practice this? How many managers have ears big enough to listen, eyes sharp enough to focus, trunks flexible enough to adapt, tusks strong enough to embrace flaws, and bellies calm enough to digest failure? Most don’t. They drown in noise, chase vanity metrics, refuse to adapt, hide imperfections, and choke on every setback. Employees don’t quit companies—they quit leaders who never understood what Ganesha was silently teaching. Mahaperiyava’s insight turns a festival into a framework: Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about anatomy. Organizational greatness isn’t about speed. It’s about rhythm. Human growth isn’t about perfection. It’s about resilience. Next time you see Ganesha, don’t just fold your hands. Read Him like a textbook. Because in those limbs lies the secret code to building organizations where people thrive, leaders evolve, and legacies endure. And here’s the paradox: the more you see Ganesha as a “God,” the less you practice His lessons. The moment you see Him as a “teacher,” you begin to transform. Ganesh Chaturthi isn’t just a ritual. It’s a reminder that leadership begins not in boardrooms, but in the silent metaphors of wisdom carved into clay. #Leadership #OrganizationalWisdom #EmployeeMotivation #ManagementLessons #BusinessPhilosophy #GaneshChaturthi #WorkplaceCulture #Inspiration #LinkedInThoughtLeadership