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Courage Over Comfort

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If there was ever a moment for courageous leadership, it’s now.

Across hospitals, professional societies, and industry companies, I see a growing temptation to do what feels safest—wait, pause, hunker down until the storm passes. I call this the “frozen zone”—that place where uncertainty, risk, and fear can quietly stop progress in its tracks.

The Harvard Business Review article Now Is the Time for Courage by Ranjay Gulati names the same dynamic: in times of volatility, too many leaders freeze, retrench, or wait for perfect clarity. But as Gulati’s research shows, the leaders who emerge stronger are the ones who combine thoughtful risk-taking with decisive, values-driven action.

Here’s what that looks like:

  • Create a positive narrative – Hunt for opportunities in the noise. Anchor your decisions to a moral quest so the risk feels worth it.
  • Cultivate confidence – Deepen your expertise, expand your problem-solving toolkit, and focus on what you can control.
  • Take small steps – Move incrementally to gain clarity, adjust, and keep your options open. Progress is built in motion, not in theory.
  • Find connection – Build your circle of allies, mentors, and truth-tellers. Courage multiplies when shared.
  • Stay calm under pressure – Use composure techniques to think clearly in chaos. When others lose their footing, your steadiness becomes the anchor for your team.

Why the Frozen Zone Is Dangerous for Healthcare

In business, frozen decision-making slows growth.

In healthcare, it can cost lives.

When healthcare industry leaders stay in the frozen zone:

  • Patient care stalls – Needed innovations in access, quality, and safety are delayed.
  • Health disparities widen – Waiting for “perfect clarity” often means underserved communities wait even longer.
  • Workforce morale erodes – Teams lose trust in leadership when vision isn’t matched by action.
  • Opportunities disappear – Funding, partnerships, and policy windows close while we hesitate.

Healthcare is too critical to play defense forever. Courage here isn’t about reckless leaps. It’s about informed, timely action that protects lives, strengthens systems, and earns trust.

And let’s be clear: Safe leadership is not the same as good leadership. In this moment, the sidelines are not neutral – they’re part of the problem.

Moving From Frozen to Forward

That’s why ODLC exists. We’ve built the tools, programs, and partnerships that help leaders move forward strategically, even when the path isn’t perfectly lit.

Whether through our certificate programs, leadership assessments, educational workshops, or industry collaborations, our mission is to equip you with the strategy, confidence, and community you need to take action now.

To our members, our societies, and our industry partners: your influence is not just welcome—it’s essential. The future of healthcare will be shaped by those who step in, act boldly, and build together. Let’s not watch from the sidelines. Let’s get in the game and make it count.

This week’s challenge: Identify one place in your work where you’ve been waiting for “the right time” to act. Take one step—set the meeting, launch the pilot, start the conversation. Small moves can truly dynamize health.

Onward and Upward,
Dr. Erica

Written by Dr. Taylor
Founder, CEO of ODLC Practice: Duke University Subspecialty: Hand Surgery Dr. Taylor believes the unique combination of our lived experiences, passion for changing the landscape of orthopaedics, and strengths in strategic diversity leadership make the ODLC powerful and inimitable.
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