How to Be Bold
RELEASED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
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?
In How to Be Bold, Ranjay Gulati offers a powerful playbook for becoming bolder and braver than we ever thought possible. Rather than leaving brave deeds to mythological heroes and resigning ourselves to apathy or cowardice, we can train ourselves to step up and act in the face of uncertainty. The key, Gulati argues, is to adopt ways of thinking that allow us to neutralize or 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.
Press for How to Be Bold
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Additional Media for How to Be Bold
About How to Be Bold
Reviews
The origins of How to Be Bold trace back to my childhood. I saw courage in my own parents—a military intelligence officer father who faced combat a number of times and an entrepreneurial mother who forged her path in a society that didn’t readily welcome female entrepreneurs—but assumed it was simply who they were. Influenced also by cultural archetypes like James Bond and Clint Eastwood, I fell into the common trap: courage felt inherent, not learned. You either had it, or you didn’t, and it surely simply meant the absence of fear. Yet, one curiosity puzzled me: I always sensed that my parents’ ostensibly bold actions were never quite “effortless.” They embodied a paradox: models of courage on one hand, yet clearly mere mortals—flaws and all—who still managed to forge through life with bravery and boldness.
Two key experiences then reignited this curiosity and set me on a path to study the topic more deeply—a topic I realized wasn’t widely explored in academic research. First, research for my 2010 HBR article “Roaring Out of Recession” revealed a stark reality: during crises, while many companies retreated in fear, a brave few pushed forward and emerged winners. Around the same time, chairing Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, I engaged deeply with senior leaders grappling with intense uncertainty. When asked about the leaders who most inspired them, “courage” consistently surfaced as a critical quality—needed precisely to navigate the unknown that remained, even after all the analysis was done.
Issue: September 1, 2025
How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage. By Ranjay Gulati
Sept. 2025. 336p. HarperBusiness, $32 (9780063394810); e-book (9780063394827). 650
Harvard Business School professor Gulati presents a thought-provoking and well-documented analysis of courage. Gulati samples from remarkable real-life accounts of boldness to support his approach to cultivating courage, which he has dubbed the “9 C’s.” A chapter is devoted to each “C”: coping, confidence, commitment, connection, comprehension, calm, clan, charisma, and culture. The first six “C” qualities apply to individuals, while the final three apply specifically to groups (“collective courage”). The book emphasizes that these qualities are meant to be developed over time and that there will be both forward progress and regression at various points along the way. Examples range from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen to University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban and noted “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Sully Sullenberger. The book will appeal to a wide range of readers based on its universally relatable subject matter and down-to-earth style. Recommended for large business collections.
— Jennifer Michaelson
From the author’s opening account of his mother’s near-gunpoint encounter, the case studies in How to Be Bold epitomize feats of courage while grounding them in the attainable. An expert in organizational behavior, Gulati, the Lawrence MBA class of 1942 professor of business administration, provides a user-friendly playbook for cultivating boldness through researched, real-life examples. Within this framework, courage is learned behavior; fears can be recognized and mitigated; and wielders of this mindset become architects of their own destiny, able to act decisively in the face of risk.
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“One of my favorite titles of the year…Anyone hoping to be braver, bolder or simply looking for inspiration to speak truth to power, both corporate and political, would do well to read this book — and then pass it on.”
– Larry Gennari
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In How to Be Bold, Ranjay Gulati offers a powerful playbook for becoming bolder and braver than we ever thought possible. Rather than leaving brave deeds to mythological heroes and resigning ourselves to apathy or cowardice, we can train ourselves to step up and act in the face of uncertainty. The key, Gulati argues, is to adopt ways of thinking that allow us to neutralize or 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. … 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.
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What People are Saying
How to Be Bold is a profound and illuminating guide to unlocking the boundless potential within each of us. Ranjay Gulati masterfully reveals that courage is not an innate trait reserved for the few but a practice that can be cultivated by all. By transforming our perception of fear and embracing the ‘9 C’s,’ we transcend self-imposed limitations and step into a life of purpose, impact, and unwavering authenticity. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to align with their highest potential and move through the world with fearless grace.
Deepak Chopra
MD, New York Times best-selling author
An engrossing, evidence-based, and actionable guide to acting in the face of fear. Ranjay Gulati is an expert on how individuals and organizations can take smart risks, and his book is brimming with tools to build your courage and your competence.
Adam Grant,
#1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and HIDDEN POTENTIAL, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking
I love this book. How to Be Bold is a practical roadmap filled with real-life stories that will inspire you and help you find courage when it matters most.
New York Times bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast
What holds back so many people from reaching their potential is fear. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. In How to Be Bold, Ranjay Gulati masterfully shows how courage can be learned and cultivated. Read this book to unlock the courage you need in work and life.
Arthur C. Brooks,
Harvard Professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author
Most of us are quick to criticize those who stay quiet when their leaders act unethically, we scoff at those who don’t speak truth to power ‘when they had the chance.’ But if we were in their shoes, are we absolutely confident we have the courage to speak up in the face of potential danger, humiliation or reprisal? Though it seems some people are born with courage, it turns out it can be cultivated. Which is a very good thing. Having courage is more than heroism or speaking up – it’s about the will to invent, experiment and endure discomfort for a greater good. How to Be Bold is the book we need to inspire us to do the things we see more “courageous” people doing!
Simon Sinek
Optimist and New York Times Bestselling author of The Infinite Game and host of the podcast, A Bit of Optimism
former manager of Manchester United Football Club
This book will make you rethink what it means to be brave. Gulati’s crisp synthesis of psychology and leadership reveals that everyday heroism is not just learnable—it’s contagious and surprisingly systematic. How to Be Bold turns courage into something we can understand, practice, and, perhaps for the first time, truly master.
#1 New York Times bestselling author of DRIVE, WHEN, and THE POWER OF REGRET
Engaging and meaningful, How to Be Bold will keep readers turning the pages for more of its wonderful stories of courage, cowardice, and learning. Packed with insight about human psychology and organizational behavior, this exciting new book offers readers a path forward to become better leaders or simply to lead fuller lives.
Amy C Edmondson
Novartis Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School; Author, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well (Atria 2023)
In today’s fractured world, leadership demands more than skill — it demands courage. Not the performative kind, but the steady conviction to do what’s right when it’s hardest. In How to Be Bold, Ranjay Gulati offers a clear-eyed reminder that bold leadership is not reckless — it is principled, grounded, and deeply needed. For leaders committed to long-term value and societal impact, this is a timely and substantive guide.
Paul Polman
Business leader, investor, philanthropist
Courage is the hidden engine behind every meaningful innovation, every act of justice, and every human breakthrough. This remarkable book reveals that courage isn’t some rare trait possessed by a lucky few — it’s a muscle we can all strengthen. How to Be Bold is both a timely guide and a timeless call to action. In a world that needs more moral leadership and compassionate risk-takers, this book could not have come at a better time.
Anand Mahindra
Chairman, Mahindra Group
USMC (Ret.), 35th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
Harvard Business School professor Gulati (Deep Purpose) shines in this fresh examination of courage that combines suspenseful storytelling with relevant research. He argues that boldness is neither innate nor rare but a discipline that can be developed like a muscle. …. As inspirational as it is practical, this is a much-needed reframing of what it means to be brave. (Sept.)
Gulati, known for his influential Deep Purpose, brings the same blend of research and storytelling here. He grounds his arguments in history and everyday life, returning to the central message: that courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to act despite it. He also draws on his family’s story of resilience, making the lessons intimate and universal. . . . .What makes the book stand out is its accessibility. Gulati writes with clarity and pace, turning academic insight into practical guidance. His examples range from Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition to the Ukrainian resistance, giving the book both timeless and contemporary resonance. A foreword by the Dalai Lama underscores its human depth. How to Be Bold is both inspiring and hands-on. It challenges readers to ask not whether they feel afraid, but whether they can act meaningfully despite it. It is also a reminder that courage is a muscle that can be trained.
Journalist, Financial Times
‘How to Be Bold’: Harvard’s Ranjay Gulati on navigating uncertainty in business
Why I Wrote This Book
Harvard Business School professor Gulati (Deep Purpose) shines in this fresh examination of courage that combines suspenseful storytelling with relevant research. He argues that boldness is neither innate nor rare but a discipline that can be developed like a muscle. To help people become more courageous in their careers and pesonal lives, he created a formula called “the 9 C’s,” which includes such strategies as commitment, connection, and charisma. The book’s most memorable moments are stories about everyday people hurled into life-or-death situations. For example, in 2023, 26-year-old Brandon Tsay disarmed a gunman who opened fire at a Los Angeles dance hall where he worked. In an interview, Tsay revealed that he had never viewed himself as brave or heroic, but the venue had been founded by his grandmother, and he knew many of the patrons and fellow employees. This collective identity gave him, in Gulati’s words, “a powerful reason to fight back.” Gulati also explores more nuanced and relatable examples, like how he overcame being “gripped by fear” at the prospect of public speaking by focusing not on the audience and their possible reactions but on his purpose in addressing them. As inspirational as it is practical, this is a much-needed reframing of what it means to be brave. (Sept.)
My subsequent exploration led to a simple yet profound finding: anyone can become courageous. It’s not a fixed trait. Even the icons we admire, like Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela, weren’t born fearless; they undertook journeys, often starting from trepidation, to cultivate the courage they became known for. This realization counters the cultural myths of the natural-born hero and offers hope—courage can be learned.
Based on the premise that courage can be cultivated, How to Be Bold lays out a rigorous, research-backed playbook for anyone–as individuals or leaders–to develop the courageous behaviors modeled by icons throughout history. Honestly, I can’t think of a more critical time for this playbook.
The inherent uncertainties of leadership I observed years ago have only intensified – geopolitical shifts, economic turbulence, the dizzying rise of AI—leaving us collectively with more questions than answers. Rather than waiting for certainty to arrive, or remaining paralyzed by the fear that uncertainty often breeds, my hope is that this book helps equip people with the tools to build deep reservoirs of courage and move forward with conviction and boldness.
Ranjay Gulati
May 28, 2025
Newton, Massachusetts
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