Why aren’t there more courageous leaders?

I once worked with a senior leader who had mastered the art of playing it safe. In meetings with his peers, he rarely offered an opinion until it was obvious where everyone else stood. While others debated ideas, challenged assumptions, and argued for the best path forward, he watched quietly from the sidelines. Only after the room had settled on a direction would he offer his opinion, carefully aligning himself with the emerging consensus. I later learned that avoiding risk wasn’t just hi...