Risk in Action – Fear, Trust and the Courage to Move Forward | With Jim Massey

**If you already know what the right decision is, what's really stopping you from taking it?** Most leaders don't struggle because they lack information. More often, they hesitate because something less visible gets in the way. In this episode, we welcome back leadership author, former Chief Sustainability Officer, and executive advisor **Jim Massey**. Building on the ideas from his new book Risk in Action, we explore why risk is often misunderstood—and why the biggest barriers to leadership are rarely external. Jim offers a thought-provoking novel perspective: risk is *not* something to avoid. **Risk is the gap between where we are today and where we know we need to go.** The real question is what prevents us from crossing that gap. Our conversation takes us into topics that many leaders experience but rarely discuss openly: - Why requests for "just a little more data" can sometimes hide fear rather than good judgement. - How fear of failure and fear of inadequacy quietly shape leadership decisions. - Why trust in yourself matters more than trust in systems. - What artificial intelligence is revealing about leadership—not because AI is the threat, but because it exposes the fears that were already there. - Jim's practical framework: **Face. Frame. Move Forward.** Along the way, we also discuss why organisations often waste enormous amounts of energy protecting themselves from imagined threats instead of acting on what they already know. The conversation blends leadership, psychology, organisational culture, personal transformation and even a little neuroscience. Whether you lead a global organisation, a small team, or are simply facing your own "second crack" moment, this episode offers fresh perspectives on what it really takes to move forward when the path ahead feels uncertain. **Reflection Questions for Leaders** - What is holding you back from taking the action you already know is necessary? - Are you facing a genuine risk—or are you protecting yourself from a fear that deserves a closer look? - What would change if you trusted yourself just a little more? - Looking back 300 years from now, how significant will today's decision really be? **Connect with Jim Massey** You can connect with Jim on LinkedIn or visit his website at jimmassey.co. **About Second Crack** Learn more about our work at secondcrackleadership.com. If you're looking to strengthen leadership capability in your organisation—or would like to explore executive coaching for yourself or your leadership team—we'd love to hear from you at [**hello@secondcrackleadership.com**](mailto:hello@secondcrackleadership.com).