Partnering Leadership 436 Closing the Courage Gap: How Leaders Act Bravely in Uncertain Times with Margie Warrell
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Margie Warrell, a global leadership advisor and the author of The Courage Gap. The conversation goes beyond familiar ideas about confidence and resilience to explore what courage really looks like when leaders are facing uncertainty, fear, and high-stakes decisions.
Drawing on her upbringing on a small dairy farm in Australia and decades of work with senior leaders, Margie reframes courage not as bravado or fearlessness, but as a practical leadership capability. One that becomes essential when leaders are navigating disruption, AI-driven change, anxious workforces, and expectations to have answers they simply cannot have.
A central theme of the discussion is identity. Margie challenges leaders to stop asking only “What should I do?” and instead ask, “Who do I need to be right now?” She explains why leadership effectiveness often hinges less on technical expertise and more on emotional regulation, values-based decision-making, and the ability to act even when fear is present.
The conversation also tackles topics many executives experience but rarely discuss openly, including imposter syndrome, fear of judgment, and the pressure to project certainty. Margie offers grounded insights on why these experiences are common among high performers and how leaders can work with fear rather than being constrained by it.
This episode is a thoughtful, practical exploration of what courageous leadership looks like in real organizational contexts, not in theory, but in the moments where leaders are stretched, uncomfortable, and most needed by their teams.
Actionable Takeaways
- You’ll learn why fear isn’t a leadership failure, and how ignoring it can quietly limit decision-making and impact.
- Hear how asking “Who do I need to be right now?” can bring clarity when priorities feel overwhelming.
- You’ll discover why imposter syndrome often shows up in capable, experienced leaders, and what actually helps move through it.
- Hear how courage expands a leader’s range of choices while fear tends to narrow it.
- You’ll learn why emotional regulation has become one of the most critical leadership skills in uncertain environments.
- Hear how values can serve as an anchor for leadership decisions when certainty is unavailable.
- You’ll explore what “one-minute brave” looks like in real leadership moments, not as a slogan, but as a practice.
- Hear how leaders can stabilize anxiety within their organizations rather than unintentionally amplifying it.
Connect with Margie Warrell
The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: