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The Courage Solution: The Power of Truth Telling with Your Boss, Peers, and Team
''Original and wise, this masterful book shows you how to build the honesty and authenticity today's leaders need, and positions you for success.''
- Marshall Goldsmith, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Triggers Are there things you'd like to change at your company? Have you found yourself wishing your boss would change? Or your peers? What about the team you lead? Everyone in the corporate world, from the CEO to the security guard out front, wants to change something about their company. That's the human condition at work. Where you can get stuck, however, is thinking that things will improve when the ''other guy'' changes--and waiting for that to happen first. In The Courage Solution , author, speaker, and CEO advisor Mindy Mackenzie shows us that the conventional approach is wrong. You can't wait for the ''other guy'' to change. For true change to occur and for companies to perform better, we must all embrace one simple The only thing you can reliably change or control is yourself . With truth telling the commodity in shortest supply in corporate America today, The Courage Solution challenges business professionals of any level to take actions that are deceptively simple yet require vulnerability and courage. The result? Improved impact on the job, and increased happiness and fulfillment. Drawing on 20 years of demanding executive roles at global corporations, Mindy Mackenzie reveals sharply focused, quick-read strategies in four key - Part 1, You First : Taking ownership and accountability to create a career and life you love.
- Part 2, Lead Your Boss : Transforming your relationship with your boss.
- Part 3, Lead Your Peers : Accelerating positive peer relationships to improve business results.
- Part 4, Lead Your Team : Building the most effective teams and having fun while doing it. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out in your career, The Courage Solution will help you create instant, lasting change and achieve the success you desire at work.
- Marshall Goldsmith, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Triggers Are there things you'd like to change at your company? Have you found yourself wishing your boss would change? Or your peers? What about the team you lead? Everyone in the corporate world, from the CEO to the security guard out front, wants to change something about their company. That's the human condition at work. Where you can get stuck, however, is thinking that things will improve when the ''other guy'' changes--and waiting for that to happen first. In The Courage Solution , author, speaker, and CEO advisor Mindy Mackenzie shows us that the conventional approach is wrong. You can't wait for the ''other guy'' to change. For true change to occur and for companies to perform better, we must all embrace one simple The only thing you can reliably change or control is yourself . With truth telling the commodity in shortest supply in corporate America today, The Courage Solution challenges business professionals of any level to take actions that are deceptively simple yet require vulnerability and courage. The result? Improved impact on the job, and increased happiness and fulfillment. Drawing on 20 years of demanding executive roles at global corporations, Mindy Mackenzie reveals sharply focused, quick-read strategies in four key - Part 1, You First : Taking ownership and accountability to create a career and life you love.
- Part 2, Lead Your Boss : Transforming your relationship with your boss.
- Part 3, Lead Your Peers : Accelerating positive peer relationships to improve business results.
- Part 4, Lead Your Team : Building the most effective teams and having fun while doing it. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out in your career, The Courage Solution will help you create instant, lasting change and achieve the success you desire at work.
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
264 pages, Hardcover
Published May 3, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 22, 2026
The Courage Solution: The Power of Truth Telling with Your Boss, Peers, and Team by Mindy Mackenzie is a practical, insightful, and refreshingly honest leadership guide that demonstrates how courage, accountability, and authentic communication can transform both careers and organizational culture.
Rather than offering another collection of management techniques, Mackenzie addresses one of the most fundamental challenges facing today's workplaces: the reluctance to speak honestly and constructively. Her central message that meaningful organizational change begins with changing ourselves rather than waiting for others is both simple and profoundly impactful.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on personal accountability. Mackenzie encourages readers to stop viewing difficult bosses, challenging colleagues, or ineffective teams as obstacles beyond their control. Instead, she empowers professionals to take ownership of the relationships they influence and to lead through personal example. This mindset shift alone makes the book invaluable for professionals at every stage of their careers.
The four-part framework is exceptionally well organized and highly actionable. By addressing leadership upward, across, and downward from managing oneself to leading bosses, peers, and teams the book provides a comprehensive roadmap for improving workplace relationships and increasing professional effectiveness.
Particularly compelling is Mackenzie's discussion of truth telling. She illustrates that honest conversations, when delivered with empathy, respect, and courage, strengthen trust rather than damage it. In environments where difficult conversations are often avoided, this guidance offers readers practical tools for communicating with confidence while maintaining strong professional relationships.
The advice is grounded in extensive executive experience, making every lesson feel practical rather than theoretical. Readers benefit from real world examples that demonstrate how courageous leadership produces stronger collaboration, higher performance, and healthier organizational cultures.
Equally impressive is the accessible writing style. The chapters are concise, engaging, and filled with practical insights that readers can begin implementing immediately. Whether addressing conflict, accountability, feedback, or leadership development, Mackenzie consistently offers realistic strategies that are easy to understand and highly relevant.
Beyond business leadership, The Courage Solution is ultimately a book about personal growth. Its lessons on vulnerability, integrity, emotional intelligence, and authentic communication extend far beyond the workplace, making it valuable for anyone seeking stronger relationships and greater self-awareness.
Whether you're an executive, emerging leader, entrepreneur, manager, or individual contributor, this book provides practical wisdom for leading with courage and creating meaningful, lasting change.
An empowering and highly actionable leadership guide that proves authentic communication and personal accountability remain two of the most powerful drivers of professional success
Rather than offering another collection of management techniques, Mackenzie addresses one of the most fundamental challenges facing today's workplaces: the reluctance to speak honestly and constructively. Her central message that meaningful organizational change begins with changing ourselves rather than waiting for others is both simple and profoundly impactful.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on personal accountability. Mackenzie encourages readers to stop viewing difficult bosses, challenging colleagues, or ineffective teams as obstacles beyond their control. Instead, she empowers professionals to take ownership of the relationships they influence and to lead through personal example. This mindset shift alone makes the book invaluable for professionals at every stage of their careers.
The four-part framework is exceptionally well organized and highly actionable. By addressing leadership upward, across, and downward from managing oneself to leading bosses, peers, and teams the book provides a comprehensive roadmap for improving workplace relationships and increasing professional effectiveness.
Particularly compelling is Mackenzie's discussion of truth telling. She illustrates that honest conversations, when delivered with empathy, respect, and courage, strengthen trust rather than damage it. In environments where difficult conversations are often avoided, this guidance offers readers practical tools for communicating with confidence while maintaining strong professional relationships.
The advice is grounded in extensive executive experience, making every lesson feel practical rather than theoretical. Readers benefit from real world examples that demonstrate how courageous leadership produces stronger collaboration, higher performance, and healthier organizational cultures.
Equally impressive is the accessible writing style. The chapters are concise, engaging, and filled with practical insights that readers can begin implementing immediately. Whether addressing conflict, accountability, feedback, or leadership development, Mackenzie consistently offers realistic strategies that are easy to understand and highly relevant.
Beyond business leadership, The Courage Solution is ultimately a book about personal growth. Its lessons on vulnerability, integrity, emotional intelligence, and authentic communication extend far beyond the workplace, making it valuable for anyone seeking stronger relationships and greater self-awareness.
Whether you're an executive, emerging leader, entrepreneur, manager, or individual contributor, this book provides practical wisdom for leading with courage and creating meaningful, lasting change.
An empowering and highly actionable leadership guide that proves authentic communication and personal accountability remain two of the most powerful drivers of professional success
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June 22, 2026The Courage Solution: The Power of Truth Telling with Your Boss, Peers, and Team is a refreshing and practical leadership book that challenges conventional thinking about workplace change and personal accountability. Drawing from decades of executive experience, Mindy Mackenzie delivers a powerful message: meaningful change begins not with others, but with ourselves.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on personal responsibility. Rather than encouraging readers to wait for managers, coworkers, or organizations to change, Mackenzie demonstrates how taking ownership of one's actions, attitudes, and communication can create immediate and lasting impact. This perspective is both empowering and highly relevant in today's fast-paced professional environment.
The book's focus on truth telling is particularly compelling. Mackenzie highlights the importance of honesty, authenticity, and courageous conversations in building stronger relationships and improving organizational performance. Her insights show that while difficult conversations may feel uncomfortable, avoiding them often creates greater challenges in the long run.
The structure of the book makes the concepts easy to understand and apply. The sections devoted to leading yourself, leading your boss, leading your peers, and leading your team provide a comprehensive framework for professional growth at every stage of a career. Whether readers are individual contributors, managers, or senior executives, they will find practical strategies that can be implemented immediately.
What sets The Courage Solution apart is its balance between inspiration and action. Mackenzie does not simply discuss leadership principles in theory; she provides practical guidance for strengthening communication, improving relationships, increasing influence, and creating positive workplace cultures. The lessons are concise, actionable, and supported by real-world experience.
The writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book valuable for both experienced leaders and professionals who are just beginning their leadership journey. Throughout the book, Mackenzie reinforces the idea that courage is not about fearlessness but about taking constructive action despite uncertainty or discomfort.
Overall, The Courage Solution is an insightful and motivating guide for anyone seeking to improve their effectiveness at work and create more meaningful professional relationships. Mindy Mackenzie provides a thoughtful roadmap for developing the courage, authenticity, and accountability necessary to achieve lasting success.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on personal responsibility. Rather than encouraging readers to wait for managers, coworkers, or organizations to change, Mackenzie demonstrates how taking ownership of one's actions, attitudes, and communication can create immediate and lasting impact. This perspective is both empowering and highly relevant in today's fast-paced professional environment.
The book's focus on truth telling is particularly compelling. Mackenzie highlights the importance of honesty, authenticity, and courageous conversations in building stronger relationships and improving organizational performance. Her insights show that while difficult conversations may feel uncomfortable, avoiding them often creates greater challenges in the long run.
The structure of the book makes the concepts easy to understand and apply. The sections devoted to leading yourself, leading your boss, leading your peers, and leading your team provide a comprehensive framework for professional growth at every stage of a career. Whether readers are individual contributors, managers, or senior executives, they will find practical strategies that can be implemented immediately.
What sets The Courage Solution apart is its balance between inspiration and action. Mackenzie does not simply discuss leadership principles in theory; she provides practical guidance for strengthening communication, improving relationships, increasing influence, and creating positive workplace cultures. The lessons are concise, actionable, and supported by real-world experience.
The writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book valuable for both experienced leaders and professionals who are just beginning their leadership journey. Throughout the book, Mackenzie reinforces the idea that courage is not about fearlessness but about taking constructive action despite uncertainty or discomfort.
Overall, The Courage Solution is an insightful and motivating guide for anyone seeking to improve their effectiveness at work and create more meaningful professional relationships. Mindy Mackenzie provides a thoughtful roadmap for developing the courage, authenticity, and accountability necessary to achieve lasting success.
June 24, 2026
Bankable Leadership is a practical leadership guide that focuses on helping managers and executives become more effective through self-awareness, accountability, and measurable behavioral change. Drawing on research and real-world experience, Tasha Eurich challenges common leadership assumptions and provides actionable strategies for improving performance, strengthening workplace relationships, and driving organizational success. The book emphasizes the importance of feedback, continuous growth, and leadership behaviors that produce tangible results. Insightful and evidence-based, it serves as a valuable resource for leaders seeking to maximize both their personal impact and their team's performance.
— Kristen Connell
— Kristen Connell
September 2, 2018
A very practical book from a hands on executive of people
Reconfirmed the importance of managing yourself - you can’t manage others even your dog.
Managing yourself start with personal declarations
Lead your boss
Understand what motivates your boss and what is his hot button
Inform early and often
When you mess up,fess up
When you get in tune with your boss, everything else will be easier
Lead your team
Monthly 121 with 3 topics
1. How will you rate me leading you
2. How would you rate your selve leading your team
3. How would you rate yourself on collaboration with key peer
Reconfirmed the importance of managing yourself - you can’t manage others even your dog.
Managing yourself start with personal declarations
Lead your boss
Understand what motivates your boss and what is his hot button
Inform early and often
When you mess up,fess up
When you get in tune with your boss, everything else will be easier
Lead your team
Monthly 121 with 3 topics
1. How will you rate me leading you
2. How would you rate your selve leading your team
3. How would you rate yourself on collaboration with key peer
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews