HOW TO BE BOLD

A fresh examination of courage: what it is and how we are all capable of brave acts. With a Foreword by his Holiness the Dalai Lama. Ranjay Gulati shows how to become bolder and braver than we ever thought possible.

What leads people to speak truth to power, share bold new ideas, or put their lives on the line? Most of us chalk it up to personality, presuming that our heroes are naturally fearless. But what if courage isn't simply a matter of personality? What if it's something that any of us can develop?

We can train ourselves to step up and act in the face of uncertainty. The key is to adopt ways of thinking that allow us to moderate our fears. By shifting how we see ourselves and the world, we can lower the odds that we'll freeze up in the moment while also sustaining courage over prolonged periods. We also can inspire others around us to display what Gulati calls collective courage.

Gulati takes readers inside a nuclear reactor under threat of meltdown, to the front lines of a war zone, and into space with NASA astronauts. Connecting these stories with more mundane examples, such as the bravery shown by health care workers during the height of the COVID pandemic and by a whistleblower who took the bold step to expose their employer, Gulati reveals that what all of these people have in common isn't fearlessness. It's the ability to think in ways that help them manage their fears and make courageous action possible.

Ranjay Gulati is a Professor for Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School. He is the author of numerous books. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts.