It might seem like our fears are instinctive or automatic and therefore beyond our control. But we can, in fact, shake them. Our sense of our own competency enhances our ability to behave courageously, even if we’re terrified initially.
When we possess confidence or “self-efficacy,” we feel more in control of a situation, whether we’re encountering a giant snake or taking on a challenging project at work. We’re more empowered to take risks, keep fear in check, and act boldly.
The courageous individuals I studied for my book, “How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage,” weren’t simply confident about their ability to succeed — they built a perception of self-efficacy into their very identities. Developing a courageous mindset, they came to think of themselves as strong, effective, well-prepared, and brave people. We can do the same.
To nurture self-efficacy, you need to do two kinds of skill-building.
1. Hone your specific skills
If you want to feel confident in a new sales role, for example, you need training in pitching to clients and nurturing sales relationships. If you’re trying to become a doctor, you need medical skills like diagnosing disease and following treatment protocols, as well as nonmedical skills like communicating with patients and interacting with insurance companies.
The courageous few train with an unusual intensity and focus. Rather than simply seeking to acquire a skill and practicing in a rote, repetitive way, they want to master it and become the very best at it.
Sitting in a training course where an instructor conveys knowledge about a topic in the abstract might leave you more informed, but when you’re out in the field, will you really feel confident enough to take action? The best training gives us a chance to practice under pressure.
Many of us in the workplace struggle to access the specialized skills training we need to feel confident at specific tasks — potentially including simulations, expert instruction, a chance to practice and master skills, and so on.
Given how busy we are, we might feel tempted to let this lack of training slide or to engage with it superficially, figuring that we’ll pick up what we need to know along the way. That’s a mistake: We’re passing up a vital opportunity to build more self-efficacy, foster a stronger sense of our own power, and build our courage muscle.
2. Boost your sense of general competency
To maximize the sense of control we feel and activate our courage, we need to pursue a second kind of preparation: training and experience that affirms our general competency. This is the sense that we possess a broad capability to obtain results across a variety of situations — that we are resilient, adaptive, and committed to excellence no matter what.
As courageous people the world over will tell you, such empowering beliefs are absolutely vital.
I’ve always wondered how astronauts muster the guts to strap themselves onto a giant rocket and blast themselves into space. When I asked NASA astronaut Terry Virts, he told me that the survival training he received early in his career as a military aviator and later at NASA proved pivotal by nourishing a general confidence grounded in toughness.
After spending time in nature suffering from cold, lack of food, and other privations during his NASA survival training, he emerged with a general sense of “I can do it” that he hadn’t had before. “Spending intense time with my comrades, being pushed to our physical and mental limits, did more for my self-confidence than anything I’ve experienced,” he said.
Unfortunately, many of us don’t undergo general, confidence-building experiences like the ones astronauts endure. But we can find workarounds for ourselves.
Take on challenges that push you into your discomfort zone. If you’re a student, try taking a year to live in a foreign country whose language you don’t know. At work, volunteer for an assignment that affords you a chance to get to know a whole different function or area of the business. In your spare time, try running your first marathon or taking up a physically demanding sport like rock climbing.
Find ways to really stretch yourself and boost your resilience and determination to excel, no matter the circumstances. You might learn an array of specific skills, but as you persevere through challenges and achieve goals, you’ll also walk away with a general sense of power and confidence.
Ranjay Gulati is a professor at Harvard Business School and the author of “How To Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage.” His work focuses on unlocking organizational and individual potential — embracing courage, nurturing purpose-driven leaders, driving growth, and transforming businesses. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and a master’s degree from MIT.
Black Friday sale: Want to up your AI skills and be more productive? Get 25% off our most popular course of the year, How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work, with coupon code GETSMART. Offer valid Nov. 17 through Dec. 5, 2025.
Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.
