Now Is the Time for Courage: Five Strategies to Thrive Amid Uncertainty

Unleash Your Inner Lion: Master Courage in Uncertain Times

In today’s fast-paced, uncertain world, business leaders often hesitate to take bold action. However, as outlined by Ranjay Gulati, a Harvard Business School professor, in the September–October 2025 issue of Harvard Business Review, courage is a choice that can be cultivated. Drawing from extensive research and interviews, Gulati presents five practical strategies to help leaders act bravely despite uncertainty. Let’s break them down in a way that’s easy to understand and apply.

1. Create a Positive Narrative

Like a lion leading its pride, shape your story to conquer fear

The stories we tell ourselves shape our courage. Gulati suggests three tactics:

Go Risk Hunting: Identify and mitigate risks to feel more in control. For example, BlackRock’s Larry Fink uses data to spot opportunities, like matching idle capital with infrastructure needs.
Find a Moral Quest: Frame your work as a pursuit of values. Frances Haugen quit Facebook to protect teen mental health, driven by her moral compass.
Call Upon Your Faith: Draw strength from belief in a higher power or luck. Indra Nooyi kept a Ganesha statue in her office to stay resilient during tough times.

2. Cultivate Confidence

A lion’s strength comes from mastery cultivate yours

Confidence comes from competence. Build it with these steps:

Train Deliberately: Master your role’s best practices. Pilot Sully Sullenberger’s training saved his plane during a crisis.
Assemble a Large Tool Kit: Develop diverse problem-solving skills. CVS’s Helena Foulkes used delegation and debate to navigate bold decisions.
Focus on What’s in Your Control: Break big challenges into manageable parts. Ixigo’s Aloke Bajpai kept innovating despite financial setbacks.

3. Take Small Steps

Lions test the savanna before charging start small

Boldness doesn’t mean big leaps. Use this approach:

Evaluate Objectively: Assess situations calmly. Fukushima’s Naohiro Masuda analyzed data to save his plant.
Let Meaning Emerge: Gather cues to form hypotheses. Masuda’s team adjusted plans based on new information.
Interpret in Motion: Act, learn, and pivot. Small, flexible steps helped Masuda avert disaster.

4. Find Connection

 No lion hunts alone build your support

Courage is a team effort. Connect through:

Turn to Allies for an Emotional Boost: Seek support from mentors. Leena Nair drew strength from family and Indra Nooyi.
Access Resources: Leverage networks for help. Ixigo’s investors provided critical funding.
Accept Feedback: Welcome constructive criticism. Lego’s Jørgen Vig Knudstorp used customer input to refine strategies.

5. Stay Calm

 A lion’s roar is steady keep your cool

Manage emotions to stay effective:

Practice Self-Care: Prioritize sleep and health. Nair emphasizes well-being for decision-making.
Embrace Rituals: Use routines to reduce anxiety. Steve Jobs asked daily if he’d be happy with his choices.
Reframe the Situation: See uncertainty as opportunity. Fink and Bajpai turned crises into growth moments.

Why It Matters

With 76% of S&P 500 companies citing uncertainty in earnings calls, these strategies are vital. Courage isn’t innate it’s a skill anyone can learn. By applying these tactics, leaders can inspire boldness in themselves and their teams, tackling big challenges like climate change and inequality with confidence.

Ready to be braver? Start small, build your narrative, and lean on your network. Courage starts with a single step.