In business schools, we mostly teach students how to interpret markets, anticipate disruption, and craft strategy in uncertain environments. We introduce frameworks, debate case studies, and encourage learners to "think like entrepreneurs". Yet, when a crisis arrives - not in a classroom simulation but in real life - the difference between success and failure rarely comes down to how many models a person can recall. It comes down to something far more practical: the capacity to stay calm, think clearly, and act decisively without being trapped by ego.

A story I recently reflected on captures this lesson with unusual clarity. A young graduate, apprenticing with a lawyer, was asked to manage the office in the lawyer's absence. For him, it should have been a rare opportunity to demonstrate competence, build confidence, and earn credibility. But the clients did not respond with trust. Many felt uncomfortable dealing with him, doubted his ability to handle court matters, and treated him as a temporary substitute rather than a professional in his own........

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