Risk management helps tamp down fear, but it isn’t enough

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Jean-Christophe "JC" BaudaisCEO

Risk management helps tamp down fear, but it isn’t enough

Risk management helps tamp down fear, but it isn’t enough.🌍

In his latest Harvard Business Review article, Ranjay Gulati reminds us that courage, not caution, shapes the future.

Reflecting on my own journey across 30+ years and 100+ countries, here’s my alignment with the 5 strategies he describes:
✨ Create a Positive Narrative → I naturally reframe uncertainty into purpose. My Pause, Think, and Evolve series and Playbook 2025 are ways I give structure and meaning to chaos.
✨ Cultivate Confidence → Decades of preparation, tools, and coaching allow me to instill confidence in others, even when the path is unclear.
✨ Take Small Steps → I break down complexity into phased plans, roadmaps, and “test & adapt” approaches to guide transitions and turnarounds.
✨ Find Connection → I rely on trust, feedback, and networks. Working side by side with C-level clients, I’ve seen courage multiply when shared.
✨ Stay Calm → For me, calm doesn’t mean silence — it means balance. Using an HBDI lens, I draw on logic, process, creativity, and empathy to stay centered.

This whole-brain approach helps me regulate fear and guide others with clarity and confidence, even in turbulence.

Eugenio Villamizar, Steffen F., Mitchell Schuckman, PCC, Stephane LEDUC, Guillaume Pellegrin, Anthony Anziani, Anil Varghese, Gürtler Garry, Eduard Schaepman, Jasper Bekkering, Olivier de Lavalette, Jean-Marie Valentin, Dominik Schaerer, Sande Golgart, Jesse Mendez, Amandine DESLANDES, Joanne (Jo) Bushell, Thibault SARTINI, Denis Granger Chancel, Kate Philpot…

these are mine. What about you? How would you rank the 5 strategies for your leadership tod
📖 Full article: Now Is the Time for Courage (HBR, Sept–Oct 2025)

https://hbr.org/2025/09/now-is-the-time-for-courage

#Leadership #Courage #TopVoice

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Risk management helps tamp down fear, but it isn’t enough

Risk management helps tamp down fear, but it isn’t enough

Table of Contents

Other articles by Jean-Christophe "JC" Baudais

After leading a successful company takeover approved by the Tribunal de Commerce, I saw firsthand how even the strongest business case can fail when commitment doesn’t match actions.

Risk management helps tamp down fear, but it isn’t enough

Resilience is no longer a buzzword. It’s a strategic priority.

Pioneer of an industry, founder of FedEx, mentor to many, a source of inspiration to all.

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