An inspirational, practical, and research-based guide for standing up and speaking out skillfully at work.

Have you ever wanted to disagree with your boss? Speak up about your company's lack of diversity or unequal pay practices? Make a tough decision you knew would be unpopular?

We all have opportunities to be courageous at work. But since courage requires risk—to our reputations, our social standing, and, in some cases, our jobs—we often fail to act, which leaves us feeling powerless and regretful for not doing what we know is right. There's a better way to handle these crucial moments—and Choosing Courage provides the moral imperative and research-based tactics to help you become more competently courageous at work.

Doing for courage what Angela Duckworth has done for grit and Brene Brown for vulnerability, Jim Detert, the world's foremost expert on workplace courage, explains that courage isn't a character trait that only a few possess; it's a virtue developed through practice. And with the right attitude and approach, you can learn to hone it like any other skill and incorporate it into your everyday life.

Full of stories of ordinary people who've acted courageously, Choosing Courage will give you a fresh perspective on the power of voicing your authentic ideas and opinions. Whether you're looking to make a mark, stay true to your values, act with more integrity, or simply grow as a professional, this is the guide you need to achieve greater impact at work.

About the Author

Jim Detert is the John L. Colley Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. Detert's research focuses on workplace courage, why people speak up or stay silent at work, ethical decision-making and behavior, and other leadership-related topics. His research has won several academic best-paper awards, and his teaching and curriculum development have also won multiple awards at UVA and Cornell. His work is regularly featured in various media outlets.

You can find Jim Detert at linkedin.com/in/jim-detert-785464b7 and darden.virginia.edu/executive-education/leading-with-courage.

Reviews

Named one of the Best Business Books of 2021 by the Globe & Mail

Advance Praise for Choosing Courage:

"Jim Detert has produced an insightful, practical book on overcoming fear. Whether you sit at the top, middle, or bottom of an organization, Choosing Courage will help you find the nerve to stand up for your principles and build the skills to drive change." - Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author, Think Again and Originals; host, TED podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant

"No one else writes as authoritatively and compassionately as Jim Detert about what it means and what it takes to speak up about what really matters. Whether you're working at your first job or running a company, this inspiring book will help you make a difference." - Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School; author, The Fearless Organization

"Jim Detert enables us to have the tough discussions essential to solving today's intractable challenges, and he shows us how to be 'competently courageous' so that our courage pays off for us and for our organizations. Choosing Courage is empowering for leaders at every level." - General George W. Casey Jr., US Army, Retired; Distinguished Senior Lecturer of Leadership, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

"There couldn't be a more urgent time for leaders at all levels and in all industries to embrace the importance of courage to organizational success. Thankfully, Jim Detert has created the blueprint for courageous leadership." - Aba Blankson, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, NAACP

"Jim Detert has zeroed in on arguably the most critical conundrum in the workplace today. The everyday environment demands more personal courage than ever before while, at the same time, it makes it more difficult than ever to exhibit the courage required to navigate all the challenges of the day. Detert helps us find our way. Well done!" - Douglas R. Conant, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, The Blueprint; founder, ConantLeadership; former Chairman, Avon Products; and former President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company

Book Information
ISBN 9781647820084
Author Jim Detert
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Harvard Business Review Press
Publisher Harvard Business Review Press